Taoyuan International Airport MRT

Taoyuan International Airport Mass Rapid Transit
Overview
Locale Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan
 Republic of China (Taiwan)
Transit type Airport rail link, Rapid transit
Number of stations 24
Operation
Operation will start December 2015[1]
Technical
System length 51.03 km (31.71 mi)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) (standard gauge)
Electrification Third rail 750 V DC
Taoyuan International Airport MRT
Traditional Chinese 台灣桃園國際機場聯外捷運系統
Taoyuan Airport MRT
Traditional Chinese 桃園機場捷運

The Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT System, commonly known as the Taoyuan International Airport MRT, is a rapid transit system planned to connect Taipei City and Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, before linking up with the Taoyuan MRT to THSR Taoyuan Station and onwards to Zhongli. Construction began in 2006. Plagued by multiple delays, the system is currently scheduled to begin service in December 2015.[1] Construction is being overseen by the Bureau of High Speed Rail of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications,[2] which oversees the construction of the Taiwan High Speed Rail as well as regional rapid transit systems (except the Taipei Metro and Kaohsiung MRT) in Taiwan.

Overview

The planned route starts from Terminal II of Taoyuan International Airport and extends eastward, passing through Luzhu, Linkou, Guishan, Xinzhuang, Sanchong, and finally terminating in Taipei City. From the airport, it will also extend southward passing by THSR Taoyuan Station before terminating in Zhongli.[3] The route will be 51.03 km (31.71 mi)-long with 7 underground stations, 15 elevated stations, and two maintenance depots (Chingpu and Lujhu). Elevated track makes up 40.11 km (24.92 mi) of the total route length.[4] The total budget for the project is NT$93.6 billion.[3] As of late September 2012, the project is 82.64% complete.[5] Upon completion, the line is expected to serve over 143,000 passengers per day.[6] The line will have a maximum operational speed of 100 km/h (62 mph).[7]

Operations

Two types of services will be offered: Commuter Trains and Express Trains.[3] While both trains travel the same route, Express Trains will stop at fewer stations and are specially provided for airport passengers.[3] Commuter Trains, which stop at every station, will operate from Taipei to Zhongli in 70 minutes,[3] while Express Trains will run from Taipei directly to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in 35 minutes.[8] During the initial stage of operation, services will run with a 10 minutes headway for Express and Commuter Trains (or 5 minutes per train), with a target interval of 3.75 minutes between trains.[3]

In-town check in and baggage check services will be available at three stations: Taipei Main Station, New Taipei Industrial Park Station, and THSR Taoyuan Station, thus extending airline check-ins to downtown Taipei.[3] Although check-in and baggage services have already been added at THSR Taoyuan Station, it will be further streamlined with the completion of the MRT.[9] Checked baggaged will be delivered to Terminal Two, where they will be scanned and directed to the appropriate airline.[10] Baggage handling equipment will be installed, including check-in counters, conveyor belts, container handling equipment, container elevators, and control systems.[7] Baggage will be transported from the check-in counter into containers, which will be loaded onto Express Trains. Flight information display systems will be installed at Express Train stops (A1, A3, and A8) as well as at Taoyuan Station (A18).[11] They will also be installed at check-in counters and in each Express Train car.[11]

Rolling stock

The train sets will be built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Each car will be powered by traditional, AC three-phase induction motors with 750 V DC power supplied via third rail.[7] Four-car configurations will be used for Commuter Trains, while Express Trains will have five-car configurations due to an extra baggage car.[12] The car body will be constructed from stainless steel.[7] In Commuter Trains, each train car will have 50 longitudinal seats with two wheelchair areas and two luggage racks. Express Train cars will be equipped with 54 seats with one wheelchair area and three luggage racks.[12] Each train car will have three doors per side, while the baggage car will have five doors per side. An onboard baggage handling system, including control equipment, will be installed.[12] The first train set (of 28 ordered)[13] were shipped at the end of July 2011 and started arriving by the middle of August 2011.[14] Initial track testing for the first set will begin in October 2011.[15] Of the 28 train sets, 11 will be Express Trains while 17 will be Commuter Trains.[13] All Express Trains and one Commuter Train will be constructed in Japan; the rest will be made in Taiwan.[16]

History

The elevated Linkou Station under construction in April 2010.

As one of the New Ten Major Construction Projects, a rail system to connect Taoyuan International Airport with existing transportation hubs was announced. This metro route was originally planned to be constructed as a BOT project. In 1998, the project was auctioned to Evertransit International Development Corp. (長生國際開發), a subsidiary of Ever Fortune Industrial Co. (長億實業). However, the company failed to begin the construction, and in 2003, the government cancelled the contract.[3]

After the BOT project failed to go through, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) decided to build the line directly from the government budget. The terminus in Taipei was shifted from Ximen to Taipei Main Station to facilitate transfers to other forms of public transportation (including TRA and THSR). There were disagreements between the MOTC and the Taipei City Government regarding the exact location of the terminal station. The MOTC preferred an elevated station just north of the Taipei Main Station, while the City Government wanted it built underground just west of Chengde Road. The MOTC's plan was less expensive and would require less time to construct, but it would have obstructed the scenery of the surrounding area. The two sides finally compromised, agreeing to build the station underground with the City Government covering the additional cost. The revised project was approved in September 2004 and construction began on September 25, 2006.[3]

A special industrial zone is planned around the THSR Taoyuan Station area.[17] Land acquisition for the Sanchong City section totaled 2.07 ha (20,700 m2) and cost NT$1.4 billion, including land and buildings.[18]

Timeline

Planned dates

In May 2013 it was announced that the opening of the Airport line from Taipei Main Station to Huanbei will be delayed by two years to the end of 2015.[1] The original plan was to open the main part already in October 2013.

Construction

Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT under construction under the future Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 3 in June 2009.

The entire system is expected to cost NT$113.85 billion.[24] The first train sets from Kawasaki Heavy Industries are expected to be delivered by July 2011.[5][24] Platform screen doors will be installed at all underground stations, while elevated stations will be equipped with automatic platform gates.[12] By July 2011, the last of the line's elevated support pillars will be erected and by August 2011, construction of the elevated viaducts will be completed.[25]

In addition to tracks and stations, joint development projects are planned to boost development around stations. In April 2011, Kingdom Construction Corp. signed a contract to construct a 16-story residential and commercial building near the future Linkou Station.[26]

Civil engineering

The design of core E&M systems (including rolling stock, power supply, signaling, communications, depot equipment, platform screen doors, etc.) and the design and construction of two depots (Chingpu and Lujhu) were awarded as part of a contract worth NT$25.5 billion.[11] Hitachi, in cooperation with Marubeni Corporation[27] and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, won the bid for the E&M systems and signed the contract on January 12, 2006.[28] The groundbreaking ceremony for the power supply system was held on October 1, 2010 on behalf of five contractor companies including Hitachi.[29] Motorola will supply the digital radio communications system for the line.[30]

The power supply for the system will be drawn from two Taiwan Power Company 161 kV supplies at three Bulk Supply Substations (BSS); one incoming line will serve as the main power supply while the other will serve a backup.[12] One substation (A8) is located between Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Linkou stations. The main RC structure was completed in March 2011, while civil engineering is scheduled to finish by the end of October.[31] The automatic fare collection system contract was awarded to Mercuries Data Systems (MDS) on October 22, 2010 for NT$355 million.[32]

Track

Of the total 51.03 km (31.71 mi) route length, 10.92 km (6.79 mi) will be constructed underground while 40.11 km (24.92 mi) will be elevated.[33] A large portion (78.6%) of the route length will be constructed on 9.3 m (31 ft)-wide viaducts, which will be used in both dense urban districts as well as rural areas with steep slopes.[3] Two types of viaducts, single-tracked and double-tracked, will be used.[3] Single-tracked viaducts will be constructed with a standard span of 30 m (98 ft) with mobile cranes. Double-tracked viaducts will be constructed using the Advanced Shoring Method for either 35 m (115 ft) or 60 m (200 ft) spans. A 4 m (13 ft) noise barrier wall will be used on all viaducts, and floating track beds will be used for environmentally-sensitive zones. During construction, some residents in Xinzhuang expressed concern over the 7 to 9-story high elevated track and its stability during potential earthquakes.[34] The Bureau of High Speed Rail responded that due to a base which penetrates 20–30 m (66–98 ft) into the ground, the tracks could withstand earthquake shake intensity over 5 without a problem.[34] The system is based on steel wheel on steel rail technology.[3]

RAIL.ONE Group will provide the RHEDA 2000 ballastless track system for the line. 150,000 modified bi-block type B 355 ties will be delivered for the line. The first set will arrive between July and December 2010, while the last set is expected to begin production in March 2011.[35]

A section crossing over National Highway No. 1 will employ a V-shaped support system (instead of the usual vertical supports) and began construction in July 2009.[36]

Taoyuan Airport MRT under construction near Taipei Railway Station in July 2009.

Taipei Station

The Taipei terminus will be situated under the future Gate of Taipei twin towers[37] and will be designed by architect Fumihiko Maki.[38] The station itself will extend five stories underground.[39] The diaphragm wall will be 53 meters deep and excavation depth will be around 27 meters. Four underground levels are planned: three for the terminus of the station and one for a parking lot.[40] China Engineering Consultants, Inc. (CECI) won the contract for construction of the Taipei City section through public appraisal on July 8, 2005.[41] Redevelopment of the 47 hectares (470,000 m2)-area will complex of retail, office, and hotel.[39]

Taoyuan Airport section

The entire airport section consists of four underground stations (A12 to A14a) and is 6.85 km (4.26 mi) long.[11] Both cut-and-cover and shield tunneling will be used for tunnel construction.[3] Since shield tunnels will be constructed underneath existing taxiways and the control tower area, an automatic monitoring system will be used to assess the impact to the soil and structures so that a response can be made in time. In the same section, secondary grouting and a micro-pile cut-off wall will be used to reinforce the tunnels. In addition, a floating track bed will be used for the tracks crossing these areas to reduce vibrations.[3] Continental Engineering Corporation will be constructing the underground stations and the tunnels in this section.[42]

Five shield tunneling sections totaling 3,600 m (11,800 ft) and 1,630 m (5,350 ft) of cut-and-cover sections will be excavated.[11] Arrival areas near the MRT departure areas will be constructed.

Tamsui River section

The section passing below Tamsui River (about 1 km in length) employs the shield-tunneling method. The double-O-tube (DOT) shield tunnel machine will be used for the first time in Taiwan.[3][43] The 1.58 km (0.98 mi)-long tunnels took 12 months to dig, and were completed in December 2010.[44]

Chingshan Road section

This section will be built along a steep roadside slope. Traditional construction methods would greatly increase the difficulty, cost, and excavation area necessary to build an elevated line through the area.[45] In order to reduce environmental impact and cut construction time, a bamboo-cut treatment will be used in construction to keep the slope intact.[3] Top ring girders 11.4 m (37 ft) in diameter will be used to gradually excavate the area, after which a 10 m (33 ft) diameter foundation can be placed.[45] A total of 15 bamboo-cut foundations will be constructed, ranging from a height of 5.88 to 16.35 meters.[45] As of June 2010, the contractor (Fu Tsu Corporation) had completed 13 of the 15 bases, with the additional two under construction.[45]

Stations

Several stations have been selected for public art installations.[46]

Operation CodeStation Name Connection Location
R Ex B
●●○A1Taipei Main Station台北車站 2 (R13) 3 (G14) 5 (BL7)
TRA Western (100)
THSR (TPE/01)		 ZhongzhengTaipei
●｜｜A2Sanchong三重 4 (O5) SanchongNew Taipei
●｜｜A2aErchong二重
●●○A3New Taipei Industrial Park新北產業園區 Yellow (2017) Xinzhuang
●｜｜A4Xinzhuang Fuduxin新莊副都心
●｜｜A5Taishan泰山 Taishan
●｜｜A6Taishan Guihe泰山貴和
●｜｜A7National Taiwan Sport University體育大學 GuishanTaoyuan
●●｜A8Chang Gung Memorial Hospital長庚醫院
●｜｜A9Linkou林口 LinkouNew Taipei
●｜｜A10Shanbi山鼻 LuzhuTaoyuan
●｜｜A11Kengkou坑口 Dayuan
●●N/AA12Airport Terminal 1機場第一航廈
●●N/AA13 / B1Airport Terminal 2機場第二航廈 DayuanTaoyuan
●●N/AA14 / B2Airport Terminal 3機場第三航廈 DayuanTaoyuan
●｜｜A14a / B2aAirport Hotel機場旅館
●｜｜A15 / B3Dayuan大園 Green (Planned)
●｜｜A16 / B4Hengshan橫山
●｜｜A17 / B4aLinghang領航
●●○A18 / B5THSR Taoyuan Station高鐵桃園站THSR (TAY/04) Zhongli
● A19 / B6Taoyuan Sports Park桃園體育園區
● A20 / B7Xingnan興南
● A21 / B8Huanbei環北
A22 / B9Laojie River老街溪
A23 / B10Zhongli中壢 TRA Western (108)

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 機捷再延2年 新北、桃園跳腳 - 自由時報 2013.5.9
  2. ↑ "Lines under construction". Transportation Bureau, Taipei County. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 "The Project of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT System". Bureau of High Speed Rail, MOTC. Retrieved 2010-12-09.
  4. ↑ 《交通》機場捷運大園至中壢路段高架橋全部合龍 (in Chinese). 中時電子報. 2011-03-07. Retrieved 2011-03-07.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT System Construction Project". Department of High Speed Rail, MOTC. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  6. ↑ "變更中壢平鎮都市擴大修訂計畫（配合臺灣桃園國際機場聯外捷運系統延伸至中壢火車站建設計畫）書" (PDF). Taoyuan County Government. p. 35.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT System Construction Project" (PDF). Ministry of Transportation and Communications. December 2009. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  8. ↑ "Taiwan's Taoyuan airport MRT line expected to be completed by 2014". Central News Agency. 2008-12-11. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  9. ↑ "Taoyuan Airport to allow check-ins at HSR stations". The China Post. 2010-08-24. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  10. ↑ "Int'l airport MRT station to offer direct luggage checking". The China Post. 2011-11-02. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 "Brief of Construction Tenders". Bureau of High Speed Rail, MOTC. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 "E&M Mechanical System Engineering". Department of High Speed Rail, MOTC. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 機場捷運車廂9月到 軌道測試 (in Chinese). 自由時報. 2011-02-25. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
  14. ↑ 機場捷運列車 日本裝船畫面曝光 (in Chinese). 公視新聞網. 2011-08-01. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
  15. ↑ "BHSR to test airport line in October". Taipei Times. 2011-08-15. Retrieved 2011-08-14.
  16. ↑ "機捷車廂抵台　10月亮相". The Liberty Times. 2011-08-13. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  17. ↑ ""Development and Operation Project of Special Industrial Zone of HSR Taoyuan Station District" Requests for Opinions from Vendors". Department of High Speed Rail, MOTC. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  18. ↑ "臺灣桃園國際機場聯外捷運系統工程 三重市轄段用地取得". Department of Rapid Transit Systems. 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
  19. ↑ 李順德 (2008-12-05). "再砸130億》機場捷運 延伸到中壢車站". 聯合新聞網. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
  20. ↑ 孫承武 (2008-12-31). "機場捷運共構；郝龍斌:台北將入列國際都市". 大紀元. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
  21. ↑ 「台灣桃園國際機場聯外捷運系統延伸至中壢火車站規劃報告」案
  22. ↑ 捷運機場線增博愛站 站址確定
  23. ↑ "Construction of MRT Airport Line's elevated section completed". Focus Taiwan News Channel. 2011-08-05. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Talk of the day -- Airport MRT line and expansion project in focus". Focus Taiwan News Channel. 2010-07-25. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  25. ↑ "關切機場捷運進度　吳志揚視察A8長庚醫院站". NOW News. 2011-03-24. Retrieved 2011-03-31.
  26. ↑ "Kingdom to develop land near future Linkou MRT". The China Post. 2011-04-13. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  27. ↑ 台北・中正国際空港鉄道建設契約を受注 (in Japanese). Marubeni. 2006-01-12. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
  28. ↑ "Hitachi Signed Contract for Airport Access MRT System in Taiwan". Hitachi. 2006-01-12. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
  29. ↑ "The Groundbreaking Ceremony of Power Supply System for Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT System Construction Project". Department of High Speed Rail, MOTC. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  30. ↑ "Motorola to Provide TETRA Radio Network for Taiwan Tao-Yuan Airport Link Transit System". Motorola. 2007-06-26. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
  31. ↑ "BOHSR Newsletter: Jul. 2011" (PDF). Bureau of High Speed Rail. July 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
  32. ↑ "Contract Signing of Automatic Fare Collection System Works for Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT with Contractor". Bureau of High Speed Rail, MOTC. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  33. ↑ "Route Map". Bureau of High Speed Rail, MOTC. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "機場捷運七樓高 民眾憂安全". 新浪新聞. 2011-02-28. Retrieved 2011-02-28.
  35. ↑ "Updates from APS Technology, Railinc, Wabtec, Bombardier, RAIL.ONE, David J. Joseph and Bowman, Barrett & Associates". Progressive Railroading. 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
  36. ↑ "桃園機場捷運 V型橋工程即將完成". 自立晚報. 2011-04-15. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
  37. ↑ "Twin towers to appear at airport MRT line". The China Post. 2006-09-26. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  38. ↑ 台北中央駅空港高速線の駅デザイン (in Japanese). IKDS. September 2007. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 "Redevelopment of Taipei Main Station Area". Maki and Associates. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
  40. ↑ "專題報導 Special Report: 臺灣桃園國際機場聯外捷運系統 臺北站工程". Department of Rapid Transit Systesm. 2008-03-01. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
  41. ↑ "機場捷運線百年大計 臺北車站特定區- -國家門戶". Department of Rapid Transit Systems. 2005-09-01. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  42. ↑ "Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT System Construction Project Contract CU02". Continental Engineering Corporation. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
  43. ↑ "機場捷運線雙圓潛盾機設備之設計考量". Department of Rapid Transit Systems. 2008-03-01. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
  44. ↑ Grace Kuo (2010-12-31). "Super tunnel digger speeds up Taipei MRT project". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 "Cross passage of Shield Tunnel of Airport MRT & Bamboo-Cutting foundation Are to Be Completed with Great Expeditiousness". MOTC. 2010-07-23. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  46. ↑ "Public Art Sites Project Descriptions". MRT Engineering Office, Bureau of High Speed Rail. Retrieved 2010-12-01.

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