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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 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. Routes Note: The following romanizations were taken from the '''TRTC route page''' Current routes Zhongshan Junior High School - Taipei Zoo Elevated VAL. 10.9 km, 12 stations, completed on March 28, 1996. Fuzhong - Kunyang Underground metro. 18.1 km, 16 stations, completed on Dec 24, 1999. Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall - Danshui (Danshuei) Includes underground, elevated, and surface level metro. 22.8 km, 20 stations, completed in December 24, 1998.
Beitou - Xinbeitou Elevated metro. 1.1 km, 2 stations, completed on March 28, 1997. Guting - Nanshijiao (Nanshihjiao) Underground metro. 5.4 km, 5 stations, completed on December 24, 1998. 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.
Ximen - Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Underground metro. 1.6 km, 3 stations, completed in August 31, 2000. Fuzhong - Yongning Underground metro. 5.6 km, 4 stations, completed on May 31, 2006. Routes under construction Source: http://www.dorts.gov.tw/net/process.asp (Progress through September 2006, issued on October 16, 2006) 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. Fare Versus Traveling Distance 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 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. 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. Table of Rolling Stock Other information '''Source''' Initial Systems & Trains: Nissho Iwai American Corporation, Kawasaki Rolling Stock, Matra. New Systems & Trains: Siemens AG, SGP, Union Carriage. Initial Construction (1990 - 2000): US$18 Billion Second Phase Construction (allocated in 2003): US$13.8 Billion
System: VAL 256 Medium capacity trains, rubber tires, automatic computer control. Maximum Speed: 80 km/hour Maximum Capacity per Train Car: 114
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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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