Standing room only on long commutes

From Feb 18, all station and train broadcasts on Metro Line 11 are telling passengers not to bring stools onboard.

Bilingual signs are also on display inside the trains that read: "For the safety of yourself and others, please do not use any stools on the train. Thank you for your cooperation."

Passengers bringing their own stools on suburban Metro lines to make the trip easier have become a common sight, especially on Line 11 which runs from Huaqiao Station in neighboring Jiangsu Province to Disney Resort in Pudong. The trip takes up to two hours.

Authorities argue the stools are safety hazards and an inconvenience for other passengers.

Many passengers said that people sitting on stools often block their way to the door.

They also feared people may trip over on those sitting on stools when the train brakes.

Metro operators have begun asking those sitting on stools to put them away.

"Not only do these stools taken up space on the train, they also endanger others," said Wang Qing from Shanghai Metro. "Especially when the train is crowded."

So far, Line 11 is the only line to ask people not to bring their own seats.

Similar problems have occurred on other lines.