Xinbeitou Branch Line (TRTS)

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The 3-car C301 train operating on the line up to 2007.
The 3-car C301 train operating on the line up to 2007.
Xinbeitou Branch Line (TRTS)
Traditional Chinese: 新北投支線

The Xinbeitou Branch Line is a branch line of the DanShui Line on the Taipei Rapid Transit System (TRTS), first opened for service on 28 March 1997. The line is 1.2km long and consists of two stations.

Its origins can be traced as far back as 1916, where its predecessor line of a similar route was built and operated by the Taiwan Railway Administration. It was last operated on 15 July 1988 by diesel units.

The operation of the line was problematic to TRTS. Complaints of noise pollution by residents along the line have led to severe restrictions.[1][2] Barely after 6 months of the line's opening, the frequency had to be reduced. On 1 November 1998, the number of cars operating on the line was reduced to three from six. Up to 2007 the operating hours was limited to between 7am and 9pm only.[1][2] Trains currently still operate with a speed limit of 25km/h due to flange on its sharp curves.

TRTS completed the installation of the sound-proofing barrier along the line by 2006, and on 14 September 2007 extended its operating hours to between 6am and midnight.[1] It was hoped that if the noise standards were deemed to be at an acceptable level that the current Orange Line trains on the Danshui Line to operate on the Xinbeitou Line instead.[3] Trains operate at a maximum headway of one per 7-8 minutes during peak hour.

It was reported that the line was operated at a loss.[4] A proposal was put forth in 2005 that a maglev train operation would solve the problem of noise pollution,[5] but its feasibility on operating costs became a subject of ridicule.

Modified C301 (trainset 3014) originally operated on the line in a 3-car formation, making it unique on the system. From 2007 onwards, the train was replaced by a purpose-built C371 of a similar length.

[edit] Stations

Station Name Area Transfer
Hanyu Pinyin Tongyong Pinyin
Xinbeitou Branch Line
Xinbeitou Sinbeitou Beitou, Taipei
Beitou Beitou Image:AB-Kreuz.svg DanShui Line

[edit] References

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