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Maokong cable car's debut set for end of June

Workers yesterday perform tests on the Maokong cable car system, which is scheduled to begin operations on June 30. PHOTO: CNA

The Maokong cable car system, a municipal project aimed at developing the tourist and recreational potential of the Muzha (木柵) area, will start operation on June 30, officials said yesterday.

The 4km-long cable car system, which runs from Taipei Municipal Zoo, stops at Chih-nan Temple (指南宮) and ends in Maokong (貓空), a popular destination for tea-drinking, is also designed to ease traffic over the mountain of Maokongyuan (貓空員山).

Hung Tsang-lang (洪滄浪), director of the Taipei City Transportation Department's traffic planning office, said that travelers would be able to use their MRT EasyCards to pay for a trip on the cable car, and that prices would be set at NT$30, NT$40 and NT$50.

"It's the same system, so passengers will be able to pay with the EasyCard. We believe that the low price would make it very attractive to visitors," he said during an inspection tour of the system in Muzha yesterday.

Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said he expected the cable car to boost the local tourism sector.

"It's a comfortable and smooth ride. I also enjoy the beautiful mountain views very much. The development of the cable car system could make this area a popular new tourist attraction," Hau said after taking a ride in the cable car during a test run yesterday.

Passengers will even be able to see sights in Taipei such as the Taipei 101 building on a clear day, said Lee Shu-chuan (李四川), director of the Taipei Bureau of Public Works' New Construction Department.

A total of 144 cabins made a smooth run from the Taipei Municipal Zoo station to the Maokong station yesterday, but made a sudden stop for about 30 seconds on the way back after someone accidentally pushed an emergency stop button.

The department said that each cabin was equipped with a radio system which passengers could use to communicate with the base stations in an emergency.

The Maokong cable car, which cost more than NT$1.3 billion (US$39.28 million) to build, is the only cable car system in the country that travels in a mountainous region along its entire route, Lee said.

The system was built and installed by the French company POMA. It has five sections, six intermediate terminals, 144 cabins and two cable loops.

POMA insisted on a 12-week test-run period to ensure the system's safety before opening it to the public. The line has a capacity of eight passengers per cabin and can transport 2,400 passengers per hour at 21.6km per hour.

The cable car system will operate from 10am to 8pm from Monday through Thursday, and from 9am to 12am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

In response to complaints from local residents about the amount of noise the system will create, the transportation department said it was trying to find a solution in conjunction with POMA.
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