The new MRT Sanying Line in New Taipei City is scheduled to open on Tuesday next week, with rides free through Aug. 31 as part of a two-month trial period, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said today.
The New Taipei City Government’s Department of Rapid Transit Systems and New Taipei Metro Corp are to operate a new 14.29km-long metro line connecting 12 stations across the city’s Tucheng (土城), Sansia (三峽) and Yingge (鶯歌) districts.
The commute time from the Sanying area into Taipei and New Taipei City is expected to be cut by up to 20 minutes, Hou said in a statement released by the department.
Photo courtesy of the New Taipei City Department of Rapid Transit Systems
The line would provide transfers to the MRT Blue Line and Taiwan Railways Corp services, and help to drive development in the Sanying area, the department said.
The line would later be extended to Taoyuan’s Bade District (八德) to link with the Taoyuan Metro Green Line, the department said, adding that it would improve access to attractions such as Yingge Old Street (鶯歌老街) and the New Taipei City Art Museum.
The metro line, New Taipei City’s first self-developed medium-capacity MRT system, passed a final inspection on June 7 and obtained an operation permit from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications on Tuesday, Hou said.
The free rides, to start one day before the summer vacation begins, are to thank the public for their support during construction, he added.
The trial period would also be used to collect user feedback to continue improving facilities and services, department Director Lee Cheng-an (李政安) said.
A dedicated Sanying MRT Unit of the New Taipei Metro Police would be established on Monday next week to patrol stations, platforms and train carriages, respond to emergencies and enhance public safety, police chief Liao Kuo-an (廖國安) said.
With the new MRT Sanying Line, the Taipei Metro Circular Line, the Danhai Light Rail and the Ankeng Light Rail, the total operational MRT network across New Taipei City would reach 108km across 90 stations, the city government said.
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