Taipei Rapid Transit System

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Taipei Rapid Transit System
(Metro Taipei)

Locale	Metropolitan Taipei
Transit type	Rapid transit
Began operation	March 28, 1996
System length	77 km
No. of lines	7
No. of stations	67
Daily ridership	1,049,777 (in June 2006)
Track gauge	1435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) (standard gauge)
Operator	Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (TRTC)

The Taipei Rapid Transit System (Traditional Chinese: 台北大眾捷運系統; pinyin: Táiběi Dàzhòng Jiéyùn Xìtǒng, also known as the MRT, Metro Taipei, or by locals simply as the Traditional Chinese: 台北捷運; pinyin: Táiběi Jiéyùn) 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 (Traditional Chinese: 台北大眾捷運公司; pinyin: Táiběi Dàzhòng Jiéyùn Gōngsī 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.

Contents 1 History 2 Routes 2.1 Current routes 2.2 Routes under construction 3 Operations 3.1 Fare Versus Traveling Distance 4 Rolling Stock 4.1 Medium-Capacity Trains 4.2 Heavy-Capacity Trains 4.3 Table of Rolling Stock 5 Other information 6 See also 7 References and notes 8 External links

[edit] 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 system 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 June 2006, TRTS achieved daily ridership of 1,049,777 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.

[edit] Routes

Note: The following romanizations were taken from the TRTC route page

[edit] 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.

• Banqiao (Banciao) /Nangang Line (板南線)

Fuzhong - Kunyang

Underground metro.

18.1 km, 16 stations, completed on Dec 24, 1999.

• 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)

Beitou - Xinbeitou

Elevated metro.

1.1 km, 2 stations, completed on March 28, 1997.

• 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.

• Xiaobitan (Siaobitan) Branch Line (小碧潭支線)

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)

Fuzhong - Yongning

Underground metro.

5.6 km, 4 stations, completed on May 31, 2006.

[edit] Routes under construction

Routes	Chinese name	Expected opening date	Scheduled progress%	Actual progress%
Neihu Line	內湖線	Between December, 2008 - March, 2009	67.02	64.69
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	75.26	77.00
Xinzhuang (Sinjhuang) Line	新莊線		56.00	60.92
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		42.33	45.70
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		11.66	11.49
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport ~ Sanchong	桃園國際機場～三重站	2009
Sanchong ~ Taipei Main Station	三重站～台北車站	2011
Xinyi Line	信義線	December, 2011	19.52	19.21
Songshan Line	松山線	December, 2012	14.15	13.57

Source: http://www.dorts.gov.tw/net/process.asp (Progress through October 2006, issued on November 16, 2006)

[edit] 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 NT$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.

[edit] Fare Versus Traveling Distance

Distance (km)	≤5	5～8	8～11	11～14	14~17	17~20	20~23	23~27	27~31	≥31
Fare (NT)	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	60	65

[edit] Rolling Stock

[edit] 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. Passengers cannot pass between cars unless the train stops and opens doors at a station.

In June 2003, Bombardier was awarded a contract to supply the complete Neihu Line mass transit system, which includes manufacturing 202 cars, installing 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.

[edit] 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. There are no doors between cars. Passage links between cars are provided so that passengers can pass between cars safely. 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 C371 single sets 397-399, where their M car is exactly a DM car despite its car number being 3XXX. These single sets run exclusively on Xinbeitou Branch Line and Xiaobitan (Siaobitan) Branch Line. Before the C371 single sets were in revenue service on July 22, 2006, the M cars of C301 sets 013-014 were converted to temporary cab cars to run the Xinbeitou Branch Line.

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.

[edit] Table of Rolling Stock

Car Type	Year Built	Builder	Car Length/ Width/ Height	Seating Capacity Per Car	Total Capacity Per Car	Max. Speed	Fleet Total	Car Numbers	Lines Currently On	Denotes
VAL 256	1993	Matra	13.78 m/ 2.56 m/ 3.53 m	24	114	80 km/h	102	MP 1-51[1]	Muzha Line	2-Car Set
???	2006-	Bombardier	13.78 m/ 2.54 m/ 3.53 m	20	142	80 km/h	202		Muzha Line Neihu Line	2-Car Set
C301	1992- 1993	URC (Subsidiary of Kawasaki)	23.5 m/ 3.2 m/ 3.6 m	60	368	90 km/h	132	1001-1044 (DM[2]) 2001-2044 (T[3]) 3001-3044 (M[4])	All Heavy- Capacity Lines	3-Car Set (DM-T-M)[5] Set no.: 001-044
C321	1997- 1999	Siemens AG	23.5 m/ 3.2 m/ 3.6 m	60	368	90 km/h	216	1101-1172 (DM) 2101-2172 (T) 3101-3172 (M)	All Heavy- Capacity Lines	3-Car Set (DM-T-M)[6] Set no.: 101-172
C341	2003	Siemens AG	23.5 m/ 3.2 m/ 3.6 m	60	368	90 km/h	36	1201-1212 (DM) 2201-2212 (T) 3201-3212 (M)	Banqiao – Nangang Line Tucheng Line	3-Car Set (DM-T-M)[7] Set no.: 201-212
C371	2005-	Kawasaki	23.5 m/ 3.2 m/ 3.6 m	60	368	90 km/h	321	1301-1338, 1397-1399, 1401-1466 (DM) 2301-2338, 2397-2399, 2401-2466 (T) 3301-3338, 3397-3399,[8] 3401-3466 (M)	All Heavy- Capacity Lines (Future)	3-Car Set (DM-T-M)[9] Set no.: 301-338, 397-399, 401-466

[edit] 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

[edit] See also

• CKS International Airport Access MRT System
• Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit
• List of rapid transit systems
• Rail transport in Taiwan
• Taiwan High Speed Rail

[edit] References and notes

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Taipei MRT

• Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation Official Website
• Taipei Department of Rapid Transit Systems
• Taipei City Government Official Website
• UrbanRail.Net:TAIPEI Taiwan