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Taipei's WTC to host transportation extravaganza

World Metro Symposium * Taipei World Trade Center's second exhibition hall from April 25 to 29. * 542 booths of 72 organizations from 16 countries. * 655 MRT specialists, including 176 from the US, Canada, Germany, Singapore, Japan and China. * MRT car for people to try and drive. * Attempt at the world record for the longest Lego structure. * Six topics: subway-car design; transit technology; system operations; role of rapid transit; rapid transit in Taipei; and street beautification.

Curious about the latest rapid transit technology?

Wonder what it's like to sit in an MRT train-driver's seat?

Want to enter the Guinness Book of World Records by taking part in the construction of the longest Lego project ever built?

If you said yes to any of the above, make sure you don't miss the 2002 World Metro Symposium & Exhibition (WMSE), scheduled for April 25 through 29 at the Taipei World Trade Center's second Exhibition Hall.

Sponsored by the Department of Rapid Transit Systems, the Taipei City Government (TCG) and co-sponsored by the Taipei Times, Liberty Times and Power 989, the five-day event will feature symposiums and exhibitions concerning all aspects of modern rapid transit systems.

The exhibition will comprise 542 booths and 72 organizations from 16 countries, said Wu Chun-yu (吳俊佑), WMSE coordinator.

The event will focus on 6 main topics including the design of subway cars, new rapid transit technologies, system operations, the role of rapid transit within communities, the development of rapid transit in Taipei, and metropolitan street decoration and beautification, said Wu.

"The symposiums, designed around an array of keynote speech-es, lectures and panel discussions, will include 655 leading MRT professionals, including 176 from the US, Canada, Germany, Singapore, Japan and China."

Wu said that the exhibition would provide an excellent opportunity for the public to gain better insight into rapid transit systems, both at home and abroad.

"The purpose of the symposiums are to provide a forum for the world's MRT specialists to share their knowledge and experience," Wu said.

But Wu was quick to emphasize that the event is not just for people in the rapid transit field.

"At the same time, the exhibition will help the public gain an appreciation of the history of such systems, their construction and operation as well as the future development of MRT technology and its impact on the quality of urban life."

Wu added that the exhibit would feature rapid transit designs from cities including London, Paris, Moscow, New York, San Francisco and Tokyo.

"There will also be an actual MRT car for people to try their hand at the controls and get a taste of what it's like to be in the driver's seat," Wu said.

He added that the exhibition would include an outdoor cafe for visitors to allow them to watch an array of street artists.

As an added sweetener for people looking to make their mark on the rapid transit world, the exhibition will include an attempt to do what has never been done before.

"On the 27th, we will attempt to build the longest Lego structure in history. The current record is 610.5m."

Organizers say they want the Lego structure to relate to rapid transit, but they have yet to decide what the mammoth object will be.

"The content of the WMSE is quite rich," Wu said.

"We hope the public comes and takes advantage of the event to learn more about the beauty of rapid transit systems both at home and abroad."
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