Songshan Line

Songshan Line
Songshan Line 松山線
Nanjing Fuxing Station Platform 1
Overview
Type	Rapid transit
Locale	Taipei
Termini	Ximen Songshan Station
Stations	7
Operation
Opened	November 15, 2014
Operator(s)	Taipei Rapid Transit System
Character	Underground
Depot(s)	Xindian Depot
Technical
Line length	8.5 km (5.3 mi)
No. of tracks	2
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Route map Legend  TRA Western Line toward Nangang  SongshanTransfer to TRA  TRA Western Line toward Taipei Station  Nanjing Sanmin Taipei Arena  Wenshan Line toward Zhongshan Junior High School  Nanjing Fuxing  Wenshan Line toward Zhongxiao Fuxing   Xinzhuang Line toward Xingtian Temple  Songjiang Nanjing  Xinzhuang Line toward Zhongxiao Xinsheng   Danshui Line toward Shuanglian  Zhongshan  Danshui Line toward Taipei Main Station  Beimen  Nangang Line toward Taipei Main Station  Ximen  Banqiao Line toward Longshan Temple   Xiaonanmen Line toward Xiaonanmen  This route map:

The Taipei Metro Songshan Line is a high-capacity subway line in Taipei, Taiwan. It is an extension of the Xindian Line. It officially opened on November 15, 2014.

The 8.5 km (5.3 mi) route has seven underground stations (including Ximen).^[1] Upon completion, it will take 15 minutes to travel from Songshan to Ximen.^[1]

Overview

Songshan Line construction in July 2009

The line extends north from Ximen along Zhonghua Rd. to Tacheng St., turning northeast to Tianshui Rd. before heading east along Nanjing East and West Rd. (Sec. 1-5). It then turns southeast along Bade Rd. before terminating at TRA Songshan Station.^[1]

History

• November 21, 1997: The Songshan Line is approved by the Executive Yuan.
• August 19, 2006: Construction begins on the Songshan Line.^[2]
• December 2008: During underground excavation along Nanjing East Road, Section 3, underground support (anchors) for several nearby buildings were discovered. Structural concerns resulted in a temporary suspension of excavation and construction.^[3][4]
• January 14, 2009: The city government announced that the building anchors would not affect the opening of the Songshan Line.^[5]
• November 15, 2014: The line officially opens and the Tamsui-Xindian Line becomes defunct.

Tianshui Road Station

Initial plans for the line originally called for another station between Zhongshan and Beimen stations (at Chien-Cheng Circle). However, the Circle was suffering from economic concerns and engineering feasibility and effectiveness problems existed. Coupled with problems with landowners regarding joint developments and two of the entrances/exits, plans for the station were shelved on May 1, 2007.^[6] The station would have been a five-level, underground station with stacked, split platforms.^[7]

Line Construction

As of December 2013, construction was 93% complete,^[8] and it was originally estimated that its opening will take place in 2013.^[9]

Shield tunneling was used to construct most of the tunnels on the line, except for a few locations.^[1] Tunneling beneath Dacheng St. crosses existing Taiwan Railway Administration and Taiwan High Speed Rail tunnels.^[1] Common utility ducts were constructed in sync with the Metro line, carrying water pipes, gas pipes, and cables.^[10] Over 200 homes were demolished or relocated to make way for Metro land use.^[11]

Construction of the line was divided into three civil engineering section contracts and one electrical/mechanical system-wide contract.^[12] The contract for construction on the eastern end of the line (including Nanjing Sanmin and Songshan) was awarded to Da Cin Construction Co., Ltd. on March 2, 2006.^[13] The 3.02 km (1.88 mi)-long section includes a crossover section, a tail-track work shaft, and three shield tunnels. Construction of the line was completed in late 2014.

In 2008, steel price increases threatened to delay construction plans due to the price doubling over the previous two years.^[14] The Ministry of Economic Affairs ordered that exports of other steel products be strictly supervised to ensure a steady local supply and to keep prices down.

Taipei Workshop, a 3rd level historical monument constructed during the era of Japanese rule, was exactly where the proposed Beimen Station would be located. Thus, a temporary removal project commenced on October 20, 2006 to move the structure until construction of both the Songshan Line and the Taoyuan International Airport MRT are completed.^[15][16] The building moved 30 meters to the southeast, and moved back when construction is completed.^[17]

Stations

References

Taipei Metro Routes Wenhu Neihu Wenshan Tamsui-Xinyi Tamsui Xinyi Xinbeitou Branch Songshan-Xindian Songshan Xiaonanmen Xindian Xiaobitan Branch Zhonghe-Xinlu Xinzhuang Zhonghe Luzhou Bannan Nangang Banqiao Tucheng Yellow Circular [u/c; planned] North-South [planned] Light Rail Shezi [planned] Danhai [planned] Ankeng [planned] Sanying [planned] Heavy Rail Wanda-Zhonghe-Shulin [u/c; planned] Juguang Branch [u/c] Minsheng-Xizhi [planned] Donghu Branch [planned]