The eastern extension of the Taipei MRT Red Line could begin operations as early as late June, the Taipei Department of Rapid Transit Systems said yesterday.
Taipei Rapid Transit Corp said it is considering offering one month of free rides on the new section to mark its opening.
Construction progress on the 1.4km extension, which is to run from the current terminal Xiangshan Station to a new eastern terminal, Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station, was 90.6 percent complete by the end of last month, the department said in a report to the Taipei City Council's Transportation Committee.
Photo courtesy of the Taipei Department of Rapid Transit Systems
While construction began in October 2016 with an original target of opening in the first quarter of this year, the project faced delays that were reportedly attributed to a shortage of electromechanical engineering crews and specialized technical personnel.
The department is expected to submit the project for inspection by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications in June, with a committee expected to convene on May 10 to discuss the inspection, department Director Cheng De-fa (鄭德發) said.
Once the ministry completes its inspection, required improvements are made and an operating permit is granted, the opening date could be finalized, with late June the earliest possible target, he said.
The main structure of Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station is largely complete, while work continues above ground on Fude Street to build bus stops and transfer facilities, the department said.
Remaining tasks — including road restoration, backfilling and utility duct work — are expected to take more than a year, but would not affect the start of operations, it said.
Addressing an inquiry about trial operations, TRTC president Huang Ching-hsin (黃清信) said that preliminary discussions include a possible one-month free trial, while details remain under discussion.
One option under consideration is to waive additional fares for the new segment during the trial, allowing passengers to experience the extension at no extra cost, he said.
The metro operator would follow city government policy once a plan is finalized, he added.
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