Zhonghe–Xinlu line

Zhonghe–Xinlu line
Name	Zhonghe–Xinlu line
Native name	中和新蘆線
Locale	Taipei, New Taipei
Owner	Taipei City Government
Operator	Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation
Type	Rapid transit
System	Taipei Metro
Status	Operational
Stations	29
Opened	2012–2013
Stock	C381, C371, C321
Electrification	750 V DC third rail
Signalling	CBTC

Zhonghe–Xinlu line The Zhonghe–Xinlu line is a rapid transit line in the Taipei metropolitan area connecting Zhonghe District, Banqiao District, Sanchong District, Xinzhuang District, Luzhou District, and central Taipei via an east–west and north–south corridor. It is part of the Taipei Metro network operated by Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation and interacts with lines serving Zhongshan District, Daan District, Songshan District, Wanhua District, Beitou District, and hubs such as Taipei Main Station. The line was constructed under planning by the Department of Rapid Transit Systems (Taipei) and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (Taiwan), incorporating tunnelling techniques used in projects like the Xinyi Line and linked to projects such as the Tamsui–Xinyi line and Bannan line.

Overview

The line serves as a backbone connecting residential districts including Zhonghe District, Xinzhuang District, Luzhou District, and commercial centers like Banqiao District, Zhongzheng District and Ximending. It integrates with the Taipei Metro network at interchanges with the Tamsui–Xinyi line, Songshan–Xindian line, Bannan line, Wenhu line, and the Circular line. Rolling stock procurement involved collaboration with manufacturers such as Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Taiwan Rolling Stock Company, China Steel Corporation, and system suppliers including Hitachi Rail and Siemens. Funding drew on municipal budgets from Taipei City Government and New Taipei City Government and national support from the Executive Yuan.

Route and Stations

The route comprises branches serving Nanshijiao, Jiangzicui, Guting, Zhongxiao Xinsheng, Minquan West Road, Zhongshan Junior High School and terminates toward Huilong and Luzhou. Major interchanges include Taipei Main Station, Guting Station, Zhongxiao Fuxing, Ximen Station, Zhongshan Station, Banqiao Station, and Daqiaotou. Stations were designed with input from firms like Aedas, Nikken Sekkei, Arup Group and incorporate public art through commissions linked to cultural bodies such as the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, National Taiwan Museum, and Ministry of Culture (Taiwan). Accessibility features comply with standards advocated by World Health Organization guidance and local disability organizations including Taiwan Disability Rights Promotion Association.

History and Development

Initial proposals trace to planning studies by the Taipei City Government and the Taiwan Provincial Government in the 1990s, influenced by precedent projects such as the Mass Rapid Transit (Taipei) master plan and international examples like the London Underground, New York City Subway, Seoul Metropolitan Subway, and Hong Kong MTR. Environmental impact assessments involved agencies including the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration and consultations with academic institutions such as National Taiwan University, National Chengchi University, and National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. The route incorporated archaeological mitigation near sites managed by the National Palace Museum and heritage reviews in coordination with the Council for Cultural Affairs. Construction contracts were awarded to consortia featuring CPC Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Hitachi, and local contractors; tunnelling methods implemented involved machines supplied by Herrenknecht and monitored with instrumentation protocols from Geotechnical Engineering Office (Taipei).

Operations and Services

Service design is managed by Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation, with timetable coordination alongside the TRA (Taiwan Railway Administration) at shared nodes. Operations employ automated train control systems developed by vendors such as Thales Group and Alstom and use platform screen doors consistent with safety programs from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Taiwan) guidelines. Fare integration is achieved via contactless smartcard systems like EasyCard and intermodal connections include bus services operated by companies such as Kingbus, Ubus, and Taiwan Bus Company. Peak-hour frequencies and rolling stock allocations are adjusted based on passenger flow studies from research groups at Academia Sinica and transport planning inputs from Institute of Transportation (Taiwan).

Infrastructure and Rolling Stock

Infrastructure comprises twin-bore tunnels, cut-and-cover sections, and elevated viaducts engineered by firms including Arup Group, Rendel Palmer & Tritton, and local consultants. Power supply and substations were designed with suppliers like Delta Electronics and Taiwan Power Company. Rolling stock fleets include types procured under contracts involving Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Taiwan Rolling Stock Company, and electronic subsystems from Siemens and Mitsubishi Electric. Maintenance facilities are located near Gujia Depot and Gongguan Depot with depot operations modeled on best practices from MTR Corporation and Seoul Metro maintenance regimes. Signalling migrated to Communications-Based Train Control provided by international consortia, enabling headways comparable to systems like the Paris Métro and Singapore MRT.

Safety and Incidents

Safety oversight involves the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (Taiwan), the Taipei City Fire Department, and rail safety auditors from Bureau of High Speed Rail. The line has encountered incidents including service disruptions from technical faults, weather-related flooding near Keelung River embankments, and isolated accidents addressed through emergency drills coordinated with Taipei City Police Department and National Fire Agency (Taiwan). Investigations referenced standards from the International Union of Railways and post-incident recommendations led to infrastructure reinforcements, drainage upgrades influenced by studies at Academia Sinica and enhanced training programs with input from International Association of Public Transport.

Category:Taipei Metro lines