The long-awaited Neihu Line of Taipei’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system malfunctioned twice on the first day of test rides yesterday, but Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) was confident the system would be safe when it opens to the public on Saturday.
The first glitch occurred at 9:30am when the proximity detection mechanism activated after it sensed a problem with the braking system, bringing the vehicle to a screeching halt for more than a minute as it was approaching Neihu Station.
All the passengers stayed inside the vehicle until the problem was cleared.
PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
The transit company said car 150 would be towed to the Neihu depot for a further check-up to determine the cause of the incident.
The second breakdown happened an hour later when the system detected an unidentified object on the tracks. All cars going in both directions were stopped for nearly three minutes before they started moving again.
The company later confirmed it was a false alarm.
Hau said operation of the entire Neihu Line was fully automated and that it was equipped with a top-of-the-line safety monitoring system. The entire system will be thoroughly inspected and all the problems will be weeded out before the grand opening on Saturday, Hau said.
The mayor also acknowledged that some members of the public had complained about the cramped space inside the Neihu Line cars. Hau said the interior of the cars was wider than those on the Muzha Line, but added that the city and the transit company would take note of the complaints.
The Neihu Line’s free test rides will last until tomorrow. Those interested in taking a test ride must first obtain a ticket. The test ride tickets were be given away between 8:30am and 3:30pm yesterday and today and between 11:30am and 3:30am tomorrow. Only a limited number of tickets will be available at each participating MRT station, the transit company said.
Turnout for yesterday’s test ride was reported to be below expectations, while several people complained that the test rides were too short because they only covered 10 stations — from Jiannan Station to Nangang Exhibition Hall Station — rather than the entire route.
Some of the test riders included residents near the Neihu Line. They said that after enduring the construction near their houses for six years, they had to see for themselves if it was worth the wait.
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