The Taipei Rapid Transit System (台北大眾捷運系統, also known as the MRT, Metro Taipei, or by locals simply as the 捷運) is a series of elevated light rail, underground and elevated metro systems throughout the metropolitan Taipei area. The entire system is administered by the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (台北大眾捷運公司 or TRTC).
The TRTS is one of the largest and most expensive rapid transit systems ever constructed. Since it's completion, the TRTS has reduced travel time from one end of Taipei to the other from up to three or more hours to less then 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.
In addition to the rapid transit system itself, the TRTS also includes several public facilities such as underground shopping malls, parks, and public squares.
The TRTS was the center of political contraversy during it's construction and shortly after the opening of it's first line in 1996 due to incidents such as computer malfunction during a thunderstorm, alleged structural problems in some elevated segments, budget overruns, and ticket prices. However by the time the most recent line 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 serving over 980,000 passengers per day.
Routes and Operations
Note: The following romanizations were taken from the TRTS route page
Routes
- Muzha Line (木柵線):
- Zhongshan Junior High School - Taipei Zoo
- Elevated light rail.
- 10.5 km, 12 stations, completed March 1996.
- Danshui Line (淡水線)
- C.K.S. Memorial Hall - Danshui
- Includes underground, elevated, and surface level metro.
- 23.5 km, 21 stations, completed December 1997.
- Zhonghe Line (中和線)
- Dingxi - Nanshijiao
- Underground metro.
- 5.4 km, 4 stations, completed December 1998.
- Xiaonamen Line (小南門線)
- Ximen - C.K.S. Memorial Hall
- Underground metro.
- 1.6 km, 1 station, completed August 2000.
- Xindian Line (新店線)
- Bitan - National Taiwan University Hospital
- Underground metro.
- 11.3 km, 10 stations, completed November 1999.
- Banqiao/Nangang Line (板南線)
- Fuzhong - Kunyang
- Underground metro.
- 16.4 km, 16 stations, completed December 2000.
A line running to Chiang Kai-shek International Airport is also being planned.
Operations
Trains generally run from 6AM through 12AM daily with roughly 5 to 10 minutes between trains (higher frequency during peak hours). Eating, drinking, smoking, and chewing betel nut is prohibited in stations or on trains. A mobile phone ban is also in place on some cars but seldom enforced or obeyed.
Stations can become extremely crowded during the morning and evening rush hours, especially stations near the city center such as Taipei Main Station. Stations near tourist attractions such as the Shilin Night Market and Danshuei quickly fill up in the evening and weekends respectively.