Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
The line, which is scheduled to be completed by 2012, will connect Taipei Railway Station and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, shortening travel time from the capital to the airport to 35 minutes.
Ma told the ceremony that the Taipei Main Station will become the hub connecting four transit systems: Taiwan Railway Administration lines, the High Speed Rail line, the Taipei MRT System and the Airport Rail System.
He noted that the Airport Rail System was expected to alter the landscape of the western part of Taipei City. As part of the rail line will be built underground, the land above is set to become the most valuable real estate in the city, he said.
Chang Chi-de (常岐德), director of Taipei City's Department of Rapid Transit Systems, said that the lobby of the airport rail station in Taipei will have an identical design to the station at the airport.
Passengers will be able to check in their luggage at Taipei Railway Station before heading to the airport.
According to Chang, Taiwan will become the fourth location for such a rail system, along with Singapore, Hong Kong and London.
The station in Taipei will feature the Taipei Twin Towers -- which will be 76 stories and 56 stories tall.
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