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Thousands crowd Kaohsiung MRT’s Orange Line

Two fathers play with their children under the Dome of Light at the Formosa Boulevard Station, which is located at the intersection of the red and orange lines of the Kaohsiung MRT system. PHOTO: CHANG CHUNG-YI, TAIPEI TIMES

Tens of thousands of people crowded the Orange Line of Kaohsiung’s Mass Rapid Transit system (MRT) following its official inauguration yesterday to take advantage of the free-ride program that will last until next Sunday.

The Orange Line, running 14.7km, connects Sizihwan (西子灣) in the city’s western area and Daliao Township (大寮) on the east in Kaohsiung County, while intersecting with the Red Line at the Formosa Boulevard station.

Although free rides started at 1pm, passengers were already waiting in line at 12pm.

To ensure that the Orange Line’s first day would run smoothly, all KRTC employees, including the company’s president Fan Chen-poh (范陳柏), manned the system’s stations to helped guide passengers.

The artwork Dome of Light at Formosa Boulevard station —which was unveiled in March when the Red Line was inaugurated — remained popular among photographers in the crowded station.

Besides taking the train, people also lined up to purchase souvenirs including mugs, caps and key chains.

During its first two hours of operation the newly inaugurated line carried over 52,000 passengers, the KRTC said.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) and Kaohsiung County Commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing (楊秋興) both took part in the inauguration ceremony, urging the central government to subsidize the Kaohsiung MRT so that Kaohsiung residents could ride the MRT at the same low prices as Taipei’s passengers.

The Taipei City Government was able to fully fund the Taipei MRT construction, while the Kaohsiung City Government had to invite investors from the private sector, thus making operation costs higher, Chen said.

Chen also expressed hopes that the Kaohsiung MRT could eventually extend to Tainan and Pingtung to enhance regional cooperation and prosperity, as well as boost the city’s competitiveness.

Meanwhile, as construction of both MRT lines was complete, Fan — with his background in engineering — would likely step down as KRTC president.

KRTC chairman Chang Chia-chu (張家祝) had mentioned to Chen earlier that he could need a new management team with more experience in running a corporation after construction was complete.

Fan said that he would respect any decision by the company.
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