David on Formosa

The Taipei Times on Friday reported that the Taipei City Government has confirmed plans to construct a new MRT line from Neihu to Zhonghe. This line will be part of the orbital line which will run around the outer parts of the Greater Taipei Metropolitan Area, mainly in Taipei County. 

The Taipei City Government yesterday confirmed that it will proceed with plans to build a new MRT line extension that would connect Dazhi (大直) and Neihu (內湖) in the north of the city with Guangfu Road, Keelung Road, National Taiwan University and Jhonghe (中和) in Taipei County.

The Taipei City Government's Department of Rapid Transit Systems is working with the Taipei County Government to build an MRT orbital line that will connect the network's radial lines.

Original route

The original route for the orbital line, which will connect MRT lines at Muzha (木柵), Sindian (新店), Jhonghe, Banciao (板橋), Sinjhuang (新莊), Lujhou (蘆洲), Shilin (士林) and Neihu, would bring these vital locations closer together, department official Tom Chang (常崎德) told a press conference yesterday.

The first 15.4km phase of the orbital line, which will start in Sindian, then pass through Jhonghe, Banciao and Sinjhuang cities before terminating at Wugu Township (五股) at the MRT line connecting Taipei to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, is scheduled to open in 2014.

In addition to the currently open lines of the MRT there are a number currently under construction. These are:

• Bannan Line extension to Nangang
• Xinyi Line
• Xinzhuang Line
• Luzhou Line
• Neihu Line
• Songshan Line
• Airport Link

Although most of these lines won't open until the next decade, once they do they will form a very complete network covering the entire city. These lines are part of the second stage of the MRT development. This map from UrbanRail.net shows the current lines and the lines currently under construction (with the exception of the Airport Link). Another map from the TRTC website shows the third stage, but this map omits the Airport Link and the line connecting Neihu and Zhonghe mentioned in the Taipei Times article above. 

More information about the plans can be found on the Department of Rapid Transit Systems website, Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation website, Wikipedia and at UrbanRail.net. The next decade will see more changes and urban redevelopment around Taipei as the new lines open.