Taipei, Jan. 31 (CNA) The first section of the Circular Line in the Greater Taipei mass rapid transit (MRT) system officially began operations Friday, with passengers offered free rides through Feb. 29.
The Yellow Line, as it is also called, will operate between 6 a.m. and midnight daily, connecting Dapinglin to New Taipei Industrial Park through Xindian, Zhonghe, Banqiao and Xinzhuang without having to go through Taipei, officials said.
At the inauguration ceremony, mayors Ko Wen-je and Hou Yu-ih of Taipei and New Taipei, respectively, said they hoped the extended MRT network, now comprising 131 stations, will make travel more convenient in the Greater Taipei area.
The new line, which was was eagerly awaited by the 4 million residents of New Taipei, is likely to pave the way for further development of the city, Hou said at the ceremony.
Meanwhile, air travelers departing from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport can now check in and drop off their luggage at New Taipei Industrial Park Station, the transfer station on the Yellow Line to the Taoyuan Airport Line, the airport operator said Friday.
The service, which was previously available only at Taipei Main Station, will be operational every day at New Taipei Industrial Park Station between 6:15 a.m. and 9 p.m., starting Friday, Taoyuan International Airport Corp. (TIAC) said.
Initially, however, the service will be available only to passengers flying with Taiwan-based China Airlines, EVA Airways, and their respective subsidiaries Mandarin Airlines and UNI Airways, and the check-in and luggage drop must be completed three hours before the flight departure time, the TIAC said.
The 15.4-kilometer Yellow Line, comprising 14 stations, is expected to ease congestion at existing transfer stations in the MRT network, as passengers traveling in the southwestern area of Greater Taipei can now bypass downtown Taipei, where they previously had to transfer, transportation officials said.
Passengers on the first section of the Circular Line will travel free of cost for the first month of formal operations, until Feb. 29, but will be charged the regular fare when they transfer to and from other lines, officials said.
The new section effectively links the Songshan-Xindian Line (Green Line), Zhonghe-Xinlu Line (Orange Line) and Bannan Line (Blue Line) on the Taipei MRT system.
Passengers on the Circular Line can also transfer to the Taiwan Railways Administration and the Taiwan High Speed Rail lines at Banqiao Station.
The first section, also called the Zhong Huan Section (central circle), is the only elevated segment of the Circular Line, as the other three sections will be built underground.
Construction has not yet started on the three other sections of the line, namely the Nan Huan (south circle) Section, the Bei Huan (north circle) Section and the Dong Huan (east circle) Section.
