Taipei Metro Rapid-Transit Network, Taiwan

The fast-growing Taiwanese city of Taipei has a modern, efficient and environmentally-sound light rail transit system. When completed, its network is planned to consist of five conventional, mainly underground metro lines and one automated elevated light rail metro line.

The Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation was established in 1994 to operate the new rapid transit network, which could eventually grow to 100km as the population expands over a wider area.

THE PROJECT

Light rail came to Taipei in 1996 with the opening of the 10.5km Mucha Line, an automated line on elevation which uses Matra Transportation's VAL technology, as also used in Chicago, Lille and Orly. There are 12 stations between Chungshan Junior High School and Taipei Zoo.

In March 1997, the 21.9km-long Tamshui Line opened. This is a heavy metro line, with 20 stations, partly underground, which follows a former heavy railway route. It starts from NTU Hospital, passes through Shilin, Peitou and ends at Tamshui, and has the highest level of patronage.

Other heavy metro lines followed. 18 months later the Chungho Line, from Tinghsi along Chungho and Yungho road, under the Hsintien River, followed. This line is 5.4km long and has four underground stations.

The 10.9km-long Hsintien Line starts from the picturesque Green Lake (or Pitang), passes through the serene Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall and ends at NTU Hospital. Covering Green Lake scenic resort, Swallow Lake, Hsienchi Rock and C.K.S. Memorial Hall, this southern beltway possesses a tourism value as the Tamshui Line does in the north by providing the public with one of the best choices for recreation in addition to transportation.

At 1.6km, the Hsiao Nanmen line is short but important, with two connection points, Hsimen and CKS Memorial Hall, both helping to ease pressure at Taipei main station. Finally, the Pannan Line, an abridged designation for the Panchiao/Nankang Line, is 16.4 miles and has 16 stations between Fuchung and Kunyang. This has relieved pressure on the area's commuter rail network and links Panchiao, Wanhua and Hsimen before reaching the expanding commercial centre in eastern Taipei's Hsinyi Project Zone. Panchiao station and Fuchung station are due to open in August 2005.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Nearly all of the network is on an elevated structure with reinforced concrete pavement to avoid affecting traffic flow at grade level. Stations are rich in traditional Chinese motifs, with underground stations being fitted with automatic sliding platform-edge doors which open as a train stops.

ROLLING STOCK

The developers of Matra-Siemens' VAL concept devised a high-capacity variant, the VAL256, suiting the needs of densely-populated Taipei well.

Each Taipei VAL train consists of two three-car units. Each car can accommodate 368 passengers. The maximum operating speed is 80km/h (50mph). There is level access from platform to train.

102 vehicles were ordered to a design already used in Chicago, USA. The trains run on rubber tyres, rather than the more usual steel wheels.

SIGNALLING/COMMUNICATIONS

Harmon Control & Information Systems Inc received a sub-contract from General Railway Signal Corporation (GRS) to supply an Automatic Train Supervision (ATS) system, covering the Nankang, Panchiao and Chugho Lines. Harmon provided a system composed of front-end processors, fault tolerant central processors and multiple workstations. The Taipei Blue Line ATS system is designed for high reliability and availability, as well as for ease of expansion for future line extensions.

The entire operation of the line is computerised, fully automated, and driverless. A built-in safety-orientation mechanism ensures passenger safety. Trains can be operated manually by the driver with signal direction when necessary.

Platform edges are fitted with clear screen doors. Control systems program each train to stop at each station for 18 seconds.

THE FUTURE

TRTC has set 2021 as the target year for the completion of a long-term network to expand the initial network to include the Hsinyi Line, Sungshan Line, Hsinchuang Line, Luchou Extension Line, a medium-capacity orbital line, eastward extension from the Nankang Line, and to Tamhai New Town around Tamshui.

The Taipei Metropolitan Area has 16 surrounding townships covering 857km² which will be serviced by the completed network of trains, will carry up to 30,000 passengers per hour.