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The Taipei Rapid Transit System (, also known as the MRT, Metro Taipei, or by locals simply as the ) is a series of underground and elevated metro and VAL systems throughout the Taipei metropolitan area. Currently, the entire system is operated by the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation ( or TRTC).
The TRTS is one of the most expensive rapid transit systems ever constructed with the initial phase costing over US$18 billion. Since its completion, the TRTS has reduced travel time from one end of Taipei to the other from up to three or more hours to less than an hour, and has been effective in relieving some of Taipei's traffic congestion problems. The system has also proved effective as a catalyst for urban renewal, as well as increasing tourist traffic to outlying cities such as Danshuei (Danshui).
In addition to the rapid transit system itself, the TRTS also includes several public facilities such as underground shopping malls, parks, and public squares. Modifications to existing railway lines to integrate into the MRT are underway.
History
In 1967, the Taiwan Government researched the possibility of constructing a rapid transit network in the Taipei metropolitan area; however, the plan was shelved due to fiscal concerns and the belief that such a system was not urgently needed at the time. With the increase of traffic congestion accompanying economic growth in the 1970s, the need for a rapid transit system became more pressing.
The Executive Yuan approved the initial network plan for the system on May 27, 1986. Construction on the TRTS began on December 15, 1988. The system opened on March 28, 1996 with 10.5 km available on the Muzha Line, a medium-capacity line, with twelve stations between Zhongshan Junior High School to Taipei Zoo. The first heavy-capacity line, the Danshui (Danshuei) Line, was opened on March 28, 1997 between Danshui (Danshuei) to Zhongshan Station.
On December 24, 1999, a section of Banqiao (Banciao) /Nangang Line was opened between Longshan Temple and Taipei City Hall. This section becomes the first east-west line running through Taipei City and connects the two previously completed north-south lines.
The TRTS was the center of political controversy during its construction and shortly after the opening of its first line in 1996 due to incidents such as computer malfunction during a thunderstorm, alleged structural problems in some elevated segments, budget overruns, and fare prices. However by the time the first phase of construction was completed in 2000, it was generally agreed that the project was a success. The system has since become an essential part of life in Taipei.
On September 17, 2001, Typhoon Nari flooded all underground lines, including 16 stations, the heavy-capacity sytem operation control center, the administration building and the Nangang Depot. The elevated Muzha Line was not seriously affected and resumed operations the next day; however, the heavy-capacity lines were not restored to full operational status until three months later. Following this incident, the TRTS has devoted more resources to preventing flooding in the underground system.
On May 31, 2006, the second stage of the Banqiao (Banciao) Line and the Tucheng Line began operation. Currently the TRTS network has 7 lines totalling 77 km and 69 stations, with expansion continuing. In May 2006, TRTS achieved daily ridership of 995,850 riders. In terms of daily ridership, TRTS is larger than Washington D.C.'s Metrorail and Bay Area Rapid Transit in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Routes
Note: The following romanizations were taken from the TRTC route page
Current routes
- Muzha Line (木柵線):
- Zhongshan Junior High School - Taipei Zoo
- Elevated VAL.
- 10.9 km, 12 stations, completed on March 28, 1996.
- Danshui (Danshuei) Line (淡水線)
- Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall - Danshui (Danshuei)
- Includes underground, elevated, and surface level metro.
- 22.8 km, 20 stations, completed in December 24, 1998.
- Xinbeitou Branch Line (新北投支線)
- Zhonghe (Jhonghe) Line (中和線)
- Guting - Nanshijiao (Nanshihjiao)
- Underground metro.
- 5.4 km, 5 stations, completed on December 24, 1998.
- Xindian (Sindian) Line (新店線)
- Xindian (Sindian) - Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
- Underground metro.
- 9.3 km, 10 stations, completed on November 11, 1999.
- Qizhang (Cijhang) - Xiaobitan (Siaobitan)
- 1.9 km, 2 stations, completed on September 29, 2004.
- (Xiaonanmen Line) (小南門線)
- Ximen - Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
- Underground metro.
- 1.6 km, 3 stations, completed in August 31, 2000.
- Tucheng Line (土城線)
Routes under construction
| Routes | Chinese name | Expected opening date | Scheduled progress% | Actual progress% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neihu Line | 內湖線 | Between December, 2008 - March, 2009 | 63.33 | 60.3 |
| Jiannan Rd. ~ Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center | 劍南路站～南港展覽館站 | December, 2008 | ||
| Jiannan Rd. ~ Zhongshan Junior High School | 劍南路站～中山國中站 | March, 2009 | ||
| Luzhou (Lujhou) Branch Line | 蘆洲支線 | December, 2009 | 71.35 | 73.32 |
| Xinzhuang (Sinjhuang) Line | 新莊線 | 51.66 | 55.27 | |
| Huilong ~ Zhongxiao Xinsheng | 迴龍站～忠孝新生站 | December, 2009 | ||
| Zhongxiao Xinsheng ~ Dongmen | 忠孝新生站～東門站 | December, 2010 | ||
| Circular Line | 環狀線 | |||
| Shisizhang ~ Wugu Industrial Park | 十四張站～五股工業區站 | 2010 | ||
| Shisizhang ~ Dapinglin | 十四張站～大坪林站 | 2011 | ||
| Remaining underground stations | 其餘地下段路線 | 2018 | ||
| Nangang Line Eastern Extension | 南港線東延段 | 34.7 | 36.86 | |
| Kunyang ~ Nangang | 昆陽站～南港站 | December, 2008 | ||
| Nangang ~ Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center | 南港站～南港展覽館站 | December, 2010 | ||
| CKS Airport MRT | 中正機場捷運 | 0.89 | 0.84 | |
| CKS Airport ~ Sanchong | 中正機場～三重站 | 2009 | ||
| Sanchong ~ Taipei Main Station | 三重站～臺北車站 | 2011 | ||
| Xinyi Line | 信義線 | December, 2011 | 16.19 | 16.21 |
| Songshan Line | 松山線 | December, 2012 | 11.85 | 11.65 |
Operations
The TRTS opens 6 a.m. to midnight daily with extended service during special events. The interval is roughly 5-to-10 minutes between trains (shorter during peak hours).
Through operations are made between Xindian (Sindian) Line and Danshui (Danshuei) Line. In addition, trains from Zhonghe (Jhonghe) Line go on to run on the Danshui (Danshuei) Line before terminating at Beitou station. Only one train operates on the following shuttle lines: Xinbeitou Branch Line, Xiaonanmen Line, and Xiaobitan (Siaobitan) Branch Line.
TRTS uses stored-value cards or EasyCard (traditional Chinese: 悠遊卡), which is a form of smart card, to collect fares. Fares range from *]20 to NT$65 with most locations accessible for around NT$20-30.
Stations are extremely crowded during rush hours, especially downtown stations such as Taipei Main Station. Tourist attractions such as the Shilin Night Market and Danshui (Tamsui) quickly fill up nearby stations during evenings and weekends.
Eating, drinking, smoking, and betel-nut-chewing are prohibited in the entire system. Automated station announcements are recorded in Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, and English.
Fare Versus Traveling Distance
| Distance (km) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fare (NT) | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35 | 40 | 45 | 50 | 55 | 60 | 65 |
Rolling Stock
Medium-Capacity Trains
A medium-capacity train consists of 2 2-car Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) sets with a total of 4 cars. The Muzha Line uses the VAL 256 cars, with the two VAL 256 cars in the same set sharing the same road number. As a result of this numbering scheme, the car numbers of the VAL fleet only range from 1 to 51, despite there being 102 cars. The medium-capacity trains are rubber-tired trains with no onboard train operators and are operated remotely by the medium-capacity system operation control center. The Muzha Line uses the fixed-block Automatic Train Control (ATC) system.In June 2003, Bombardier was awarded a contract to supply the complete Neihu Line mass transit system, which includes manufacturing 202 cars, installing the the communications-based CITYFLO 650 moving-block ATC system to replace the current fixed-block ATC and retrofitting the existing 102 VAL 256 cars with the CITYFLO 650 ATC system.
Heavy-Capacity Trains
In heavy-capacity lines, a train consists of 2 3-car EMU sets with the total of 6 cars. Each 3-car EMU set is permanently coupled as DM-T-M, where DM is the motor car with cab, T is a trailer car and M is the motor car without cab. Each motor car has two AC traction motors.In Set XXX, the road number of a DM car is 1XXX, the road number of a T car is 2XXX and the road number of an M car is 3XXX. The table below shows the set numbers of the heavy-capacity car types, which include Types C301, C321, C341 and C371.
The configuration of a 6-car train is DM-T-M-M-T-DM. For example, if the car numbers of a C301 train is 1001-2001-3001-3015-2015-1015, two C301 sets 001 and 015 form this train.
A single set cannot be in revenue service except the C301 sets 013 and 014, where their M cars are converted to temporary cab cars to run the Xinbeitou Branch Line. When C301 sets 013 and 014 are replaced by C371 sets 397-399, their M cars will be converted back to non-cab motor cars.
Each heavy-capacity train is operated by a train operator on board. These cars are computer-controlled. The operator, who is both motorman and conductor, is responsible for opening and closing the doors and making special announcements occasionally. The overall computer-controlled system is known as Automatic Train Control (ATC). ATC controls all train movements - braking, acceleration and speed control, but can be manually overridden by the operator in the case of an emergency. In each cab there is a fully digital console with all of the appropriate controls.
Table of Rolling Stock
For the photos of the rolling stock, check the 台北捷運#.E5.88.97.E8.BB.8A.E5.9E.8B.E5.BC.8F of TRTS for details.
Other information
Source
- Vehicle Contractors:
- Initial Systems & Trains: Nissho Iwai American Corporation, Kawasaki Rolling Stock, Matra.
- New Systems & Trains: Siemens AG, SGP, Union Carriage.
- Costs:
- Initial Construction (1990 - 2000): US$18 Billion
- Second Phase Construction (allocated in 2003): US$13.8 Billion
- Network Information:
- Medium-Capacity Metro Segment (Muzha Line):
- System: VAL 256 Medium capacity trains, rubber tires, automatic computer control.
- Maximum Speed: 80 km/hour
- Maximum Capacity per Train Car: 114
- Heavy-Capacity Metro Segments (All other lines):
- System: 1,435 mm track, third rail current collection system at 750V DC, on-board train operator.
- Maximum Speed: 80 km/hour
- Maximum Capacity per Train Car: 368
See also
- Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit
- CKS International Airport Access MRT System
- Taiwan High Speed Rail
- Rail transport in Taiwan
References & notes
External links
- Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation Official Website
- Taipei Department of Rapid Transit Systems
- Taipei City Government Official Website
- UrbanRail.Net:TAIPEI Taiwan
Rapid transit in Asia | Taipei MRT | Taipei | 1996 establishments | Articles containing Chinese text
Tâi-pak chia̍t-ūn hē-thóng | MRT (Taipei) | 타이베이 지하철 | Sistem angkutan massal Taipei | 台北捷運 | 台北捷運
"Taipei Rapid Transit System"