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TAIPEI
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Taiwan |
Click
on map to expand to full Taipei/New
Taipei/Taoyuan area!
METRO | |
The capital of Taiwan, Taipei (pop. 2.7 million) lies at the centre of a densely populated urban region including New Taipei City, a municipality that completely encircles Taipei. This metropolitan area (2344 km2) has a population of 6.6 million. The construction of a medium and high capacity metro network began in 1988, under management of the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation. Commencing operations in 1996, the VAL Muzha Line (BR) has since been joined by four full metro lines and a new light metro service, with the six-line network now reaching 146.2 km. For many years, the red, green and orange lines were interlaced, but, since Nov 2014, when the long-planned network layout was finally realised, all lines have been separated. New branding and a Japanese-style line/station coding system was introduced in 2017. The Taipei Metro covers the metropolitan region and provides transfer to other rail provision including the Taoyuan Metro, suburban rail services, and a LRT line.
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Lines | |
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Brown
Line [BR]
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Wenhu Line |
Construction of the 1880 mm gauge, rubber-tyred VAL line began in late 1988, with revenue services on the southern elevated section (then known as the Muzha Line), beginning in Spring 1996. In mid-2009, the northern section (Neihu Line) from Zhongshan Jr. High School commenced operations, including a 4.4 km underground alignment around Songshan Airport (2 stations), with a journey on the entire route taking 45 mins. In 2017 the separate line designations were terminated, and the service rebranded as the Wenhu Line. Four-car Alstom and Bombardier trains operate 2-6 min frequencies. Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center - Taipei Zoo; 25.2 km, 24 stations, formerly "Line 1" 28 Mar
1996: Taipei Zoo - Zhongshan Jr. High School (10.6 km) |
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Red
Line [R]
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Tamsui-Xinyi Line |
Partly following the route of the early 20th century Tamsui Railway to the north of Beitou, the Tamsui-Xinyi Line was the first full metro service on the Taipei Metro system when services from Tamsui to Zhongshan began in spring 1997. The standard-gauge line (third rail, 750 V DC) has a mix of grade, elevated and underground (9.6 km) alignments. The Kawasaki rolling stock operates 8 min frequencies on the full route, with headways halved as alternate services operate short runs between Daan and Beitou. The four-platform Beitou station also provides transfer to the elevated shuttle branch to Xinbeitou which operates every 12 mins. Tamsui
- Xiangshan; 28.3 km, 27 stations, formerly "Line 2" 28 Mar
1997: Tamsui – Zhongshan (19.5 km) |
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Green
Line [G]
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Songshan-Xindian Line |
The fully underground Songshan-Xindian Line commenced operations in late 1999, reaching the southern terminus of Xindan, with through-running trains to Tamsui changing line designation to the Red Line at C.K.S Memorial Hall. At Qizhang, the partly grade Xiaobitan branch opened in 2004 as a shuttle service (15 min frequencies) and in late 2014, the eastward extension to Songshan became operational, finally disentangling the Green and Red lines and terminating through services to Tamsui. The line has 6 min frequencies which are augmented by additional services between Songshan and Taipower Building stations. Songshan
- Xindian; 18.9 km, 19 stations, formerly "Line 3" 11 Nov
1999: C.K.S. Memorial Hall - Guting - Xindian (9.2 km) |
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Orange
Line [O]
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Zhonghe-Xinlu Line |
The southern section of this fully underground line opened in late 1998. Originally sharing tracks with the Red and Green lines between Guting and Taipei Main station, the service ran north to Beitou as the Red line after C.K.S. Memorial Hall. In 2010, the section from Zhongxiao Xinsheng to the suburbs west of Taipei commenced operations, with the line splitting on the west bank of the Tamsui River to form an 11 km branch toward Huilong. In 2012, the southern and western sections were eventually connected via Dongmen to permit through-running across the full line. Trains on each branch operate 8 min frequencies, with services doubled on the shared section to Nanshijiao. Luzhou / Huilong - Nanshijiao; 29.3 km, 26 stations, formerly "Line 4" 24 Dec
1998: Taipei Main Station - Guting - Nanshijiao (5.2
km from Guting) |
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Blue
Line [BL]
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Bannan Line |
Beginning construction in 1990, services on the fully underground Bannan line commenced in late 1999 with the opening of an 8 km section between central Taipei and the Wanhua District. The intervening years brought extensions to the south and east, with the line, uniquely, providing interchange with all other lines on the metro system. As with other high-capacity services on the Taipei metro, short-running operations create more intensive service in the centre, with 4 min headways between Kunyang and Far Eastern Hospital. Siemens Modular 6-car trains, similar to those in Singapore, run on the Bannan Line and the entire line has a 47 min journey time. Dingpu - Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center; 26.6 km, 23 stations, formerly "Line 5" 24 Dec
1999: Taipei City Hall - Longshan Temple (7.7 km) |
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Yellow
Line [Y]
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Circular Line |
This fully automated, medium-capacity line began construction in 2011 with the western section opening in early 2020 after several delays. The northern terminus at New Taipei Industrial Park is the only station on the Taipei Metro to provide cross-platform access to the Taoyuan MRT, although different tickets are required. The line is elevated, with the exception of a 1.0 km underground section at the southern terminus of Dapinglin. 4-car driverless Hitachi Italy (Ansaldo) trains operate at 4-8 min frequencies. Construction of the northern and southern sections began in 2021 - the entire line eventually reaching 34.8 km with 31 stations. New Taipei Industrial Park - Dapinglin; 15.1 km, 14 stations 31 Jan
2020: New Taipei Industrial Park - Dapinglin |
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Taoyuan
Metro [A]
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Airport Line |
The Taoyuan Metro Corporation operates the Airport MRT which began commercial services in early 2017. The route mainly runs on viaduct and consists of two service types - commuter trains (Blue Line) which run from Huanbei to Taipei serving all stations at 15 min frequencies (1h20); and Airport Express trains (Purple Line) running from the Airport area to Taipei (39 mins) every 30 mins, calling at only two intermediate stations. Both services provide transfer to the Taipei Metro at Taipei Main Station and NTIP, although separate tickets are required. Four-car Kawasaki trains are used, with the Airport Express trains having an additional luggage car. Taipei Main Station – Laojie River; 52.3 km, 26 stations - See our dedicated Taoyuan page! 02 Mar
2017: Taipei Main Station - Huanbei (regular service launched) |
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History | |
28
Mar 1996: Muzha Line Taipei Zoo
- Zhongshan Jr. High School 25 Dec. 1997: Tamsui Line Tamsui (Danshui) / Xinbeitou - Main Station 24 Dec. 1998: Zhonghe Line Main Station - Guting - Nanshijiao 11 Nov. 1999: Xindian Line Guting - Xindian 24 Dec. 1999: Blue Line Taipei City Hall - Longshan Temple 31 Aug. 2000: Blue Line Longshan Temple - Xinpu 31 Aug. 2000: Xiaonanmen Line Ximen - C.K.S. Memorial Hall 29 Dec. 2000: Blue LineTaipei City Hall - Kunyang 29 Sept.
2004: Xindian Line -
branch Qizhang - Xiaobitan 30 Sept
2012:
Orange
Line
Zhongxiao Xinsheng - Dongmen - Guting In 2004, Taiwan introduced the commonly used transliteration of Chinese, therefore spelling may differ on maps (old spelling in brackets). |
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Projects | |
Circular
Line (Yellow Line): Sanying Line: elevated 14.3 km route from southern Dingpu terminus of metro Line 5 to Yingge to the southeast of Taoyuan (12 stations). Construction beginning late 2016, with completion in 2023. In June 2016, a turnkey contract was signed with the ARH consortium led by Ansaldo STS, which includes RSEA Engineering Corp and Hitachi. Ansaldo will supply CBTC signalling, telecoms, power supplies, platform screen doors, automatic fare collection system, SCADA and depot equipment; Hitachi will supply 29 two-car trainsets. For more details and long-term projects visit Wikipedia |
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TRA Suburban Rail | |
Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) operates EMUs on Taipei suburban rail services from the nearby cities of Hsinchu/Taoyuan to Keelung/Pingxi (1067 gauge). Although there are different stopping patterns and no clock-face schedules, services are bundled in an underground corridor through central Taipei, forming 8 to 12 min headways. Replacing the original grade line, the 21.0 km tunnel runs from Fuzhou to Nangang, opening in stages between 1989 and 2011. This section includes five underground stations, four of which provide interchange with the Taipei Metro. East of Nangang, TRA services also use a 5 km viaduct. |
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Danhai Light Rail | |
New Taipei Metro Corporation is constructing three autonomous lines within New Taipei City at Danhai, Ankeng and Sanying - all providing feeder services to the Taipei Metro. The Danhai LRT is located at the northern end of the Red Line. Opened in Dec 2018, the "Green Mountain Line" runs from Hongshulin to Kanding. In 2020, a branch from Binhai Shalun to Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf was added, with through services to Hongshulin labelled the "Blue Coast Line". The route is elevated to Tamsui District Office (5.2 km) with the remainder at grade. TRSC low-floor trams (34.5 m long, 2.65 m wide) depart Hongshulin every 7/8 mins, with alternating running on each line. Hongshulin – Kanding/Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf; 9.7 km, 14 stations 24 Dec
2018: Hongshulin – Kanding (7.3 km) New Taipei Metro - Danhai Light Rail (Official Website) Danhai Light Rail at Wikipedia |
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Ankeng Light Rail | |
7.7 km light rail line (Line K) with 9 stops in the south of the metropolitan area, part of New Taipei; north half elevated, the rest at grade in median of a major road. 10 Feb 2023: Shisizhang (K09) - Shuangcheng (K01) New Taipei Metro (Official Website) Ankeng Light Rail at Wikipedia |
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Links | |
Taipei Rapid Transit Corp. Website (official, English version) Taipei Rapid Transit (governmental) Great map at Johomaps.com Taipei Metro at Wikipedia Taoyuan at UrbanRail.Net
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Metro Photos | |
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Photos | |
Photos © Lester Kao & Hou Jan Liao |
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2004 © UrbanRail.Net by Robert Schwandl.