Nanshijiao Station JD Project "Metro Midtown" Gives an Old Community a Modern Urban Look  2012-04-26

Operation Mode to be Adjusted When Dongmen Station Opens in September  2012-02-29

Xinzhuang Line's New Section Opens--Creating New Momentum for Two Golden Cities  2012-01-05

• Source: Department of Rapid Transit Systems, Taipei City Government
• Date: 2012-01-05

An inauguration ceremony marking the opening of the section of the Xinzhuang line from Daqiaotou Station to Fu Jen University Station was held at Sanchong Station at 11 a.m. on January 5, 2012. Invited by Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-bin and New Taipei City Mayor Eric Liluan Chu, Vice Premier Chen Chun of the Executive Yuan and Deputy Minister Chen Jiann-yeu of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) jointly hosted the opening ceremony. Then, the first train service was initiated with guests and participants onboard to experience an MRT ride featuring safety, comfort, and convenience. Subsequently, starting at 2 p.m. passengers could benefit from free rides along the new section for one month. Meanwhile, soon after the ceremony, to share the pleasure of the event, a "Public Art Treasure Hunt Game" was held at Sanchong Station at 3 p.m. with the general public welcome to join in the fun.

Distinguished guests invited to attend the opening ceremony covered elected representatives, chiefs of central and local government agencies, contractor representatives, and neighborhood ward chiefs from along the route. In addition to witnessing and cerebrating the opening of the new MRT section, all the participants voiced high praise for the station's architectural design and public artworks.

The 8.2-km-long section from Daqiaotou Station to Fu Jen University Station passes through Sanchong and Xinzhuang districts in New Taipei City and covers seven stations--Taipei Bridge, Cailiao, Sanchong, Xianse Temple, Touqianzhuang, Xinzhuang, and Fu Jen University. Public artworks are established at five of the seven stations: "Long bridge lying across the river" at Taipei Bridge Station, "Echoes of ages" at Sanchong Station, "Weaving Dreams" at Xinzhuang Station, "Gazing at the metal city," "Sanchong melody" at Xianse Temple Station, "Truth, Kindness, Beauty, and Holiness" at Fu Jen University Station. The architectural design and public art of the stations on the line are infused with local culture and customs--forming a cultural corridor featuring local characteristics.

According to the Department of Rapid Transit Systems (DORTS), the section from Daqiaotou Station to Fu Jen University Station links the Luzhou line and connects with the Xinzhuang line's Taipei City section at Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station. As the route passes beneath the Tamsui River, the construction of deep excavation and large-scale diaphragm walls were a real challenge--the toughest ever in Taipei MRT construction. In addition, the project adopted many construction methods used for the first time ever in Taiwan, such as: a freezing method used for breaking through work shafts in the shield tunnels; building diaphragm walls with a thickness of two meters for retaining wall structures; and a wide-range of bottom-seal grouting techniques applied on the Jingmei Gravel Stratum as anti-leak measures. All of which proves that DORTS has excelled in the use of advanced technologies to successfully overcome difficulties, and efficiently improve local construction standards.

DORTS has repeatedly emphasized that the new section will shorten travel times from Xinzhuang and Sanchong districts in New Taipei City to Taipei City and improve traffic conditions as well. Passengers can get on the trains at Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station and travel all the way to Fu Jen University or Luzhou Station. Traveling from Fu Jen University Station to Minquan W. Rd. Station or Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station takes only about 17 minutes or 24 minutes respectively. In the future, the Xinzhuang line will also connect with the under-construction Circular line and the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport line at Touqianzhuang Station and Sanchong Stations respectively, allowing convenient transfers to make the MRT network more comprehensive. Moreover, the multi-function integrated development of the land along the MRT routes or adjacent to the stations will provide benefits arising from soaring real estate values and spur business growth, boosting local prosperity in the Sanchong and Xinzhuang areas.

After the Luzhou line and the Nangang eastern extension entered service, the Taipei MRT network was extended to 106.4 kilometers long, and daily transportation volume increased to more than 1.5 million passenger trips. Now that the new section from Daqiaotou Station to Fu Jen University Station on the Xinzhuang line has joined service, DORTS remarked that the network's total 1ength has reached 114.6 kilometers and it estimates daily passenger trips will increase to over 1.68 million, indicating that more and more people are benefiting from MRT service.