The full resumption of service along the Panchiao-Nankang line of Taipei City's MRT system moved a step closer to realization as the segment between the Hsimen and Chunghsiao Fuhsing stations resumed service at 6am this morning.
Although the Taipei Main Station is ready for service, the Tamshui-Hsimen line's alighting area remains closed and is not scheduled to return to service until the end of December.
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
During an inspection of the Panchiao-Nankang line yesterday afternoon, Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said that the segment between Hsimen and Chunghsiao Fuhsing would reopen today.
"With the segment up and running again, we expect to see 100,000 more commuters taking advantage of the MRT system every day," Ma said yesterday at the Chunghsiao Fuhsing station.
With most of the MRT system up and running again, about 530,000 people have been using it daily. Daily passenger volumes before the system was inundated by Typhoon Nari averaged 900,000.
MRT trains traveling between Hsinpu and Chunghsiao Fuhsing stations are dispatched every six to eight minutes. Service hours will end one hour earlier than the Mucha line at 11pm.
While it took about 10 minutes to travel between Hsinpu and Chunghsiao Fuhsing before the system broke down, it will now take about 15 minutes.
Those traveling on the Tamsui-Hsintien or Peitou-Nanshihchiao lines and wishing to transfer to the Panchiao-Nankang line must get off one stop before or after the Taipei Main Station and then walk or utilize a bus service to get to a station on the Panchiao-Nankang line.
Those traveling the Panchiao-Nankang line that wish to transfer to Tamsui-Hsintien or Peitou-Nanshihchiao lines are encouraged to get off at Taipei Main Station and then walk or take a bus to one stop before or after Taipei Main Station.
Lee Po-wen (李博文), chairman of Taipei Rapid Transit Corp, said that their next goal is to resume service on the line between Chunghsiao Fuhsing and Kunyang stations.
"However, it may take a little bit longer because it's seriously flooded," he said.
The underground lines of the MRT system were paralyzed on Sept. 16 when Typhoon Nari ravaged the nation and flooded the system's control center in the basement of the Taipei Railway Station.
The underground segment of the Tamsui-Hsintien line was back on line on Oct. 1, with the exception of Taipei Main Station. The underground segment between Kuting and Nanshihchiao stations on the Peitou-Nanshihchiao line resumed service on Sept. 20.
The segment between Hsimen and Hsinpu stations on the Panchiao-Nankang line was reopened on Oct. 14.
The elevated Mucha line was not affected by Typhoon Nari.
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