Department of Rapid Transit Systems

President Tsai Ing-wen on the morning of August 12 accompanied by Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) Minister Lin Chia-Lung, New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih, and Taipei City Deputy Mayor Teng Chia-ji, inspected the construction progress of Wanda-Zhonghe-Shulin line (referred to below as the Wanda line) Phase II. At the on-site briefing, Taipei City Department of Rapid Transit Systems (DORTS) explained that the detailed design for Wanda line Phase II commenced in the beginning of July, and following the completion of detailed design in early 2021, solicitation of construction companies will be handled immediately with construction expected to be completed in 2028.
The Executive Yuan granted approval for the development of the Wanda line in its entirety on one occasion with development divided into two phases. The route of the line will pass through districts in both Taipei City and New Taipei City, and as the local competent authority in accordance with the Mass Transit Act, Taipei City Government is responsible for planning, design, and construction of the entire line. Taipei City DORTS stated that comprehensive construction of Wanda line Phase I has already commenced, and the current construction progress of approximately 41.32% meets the planned progress of the project. Assembly and drilling of the first shield construction machine has already been carried out at the construction site, and approximately 11.8 hectares of land has already been completely acquired for Jincheng Depot.
Taipei City DORTS explained that financial planning for Wanda line Phase II construction was approved by the Executive Yuan in October 2018, and in order to achieve compatibility of the entire line with the goal of taking one train to arrive at destinations, the EMS contract, which has already been incorporated into the Wanda line Phase I system contract extension clause, was awarded in 2018. In addition, Taipei City DORTS has already carried out tasks related to urban planning revision in accordance with their experience from Wanda line Phase I. Under the collective efforts of Taipei City DORTS and New Taipei City Government, and following deliberation by New Taipei City Urban Planning Commission, the Ministry of the Interior Urban Planning Commission convened their first project meeting on July 12; furthermore, the continuation of the current survey and substantial discussions regarding each station are all proceeding according to schedule.
President Tsai emphasized that construction is bipartisan with the central and local governments working together diligently. Taipei City Deputy Mayor Teng Chia-ji also specially represented Mayor Ko in thanking President Tsai and all of the departments of the central government for their continued support of the Taipei MRT route network. Circular line Phase I will commence operations at the end of this year, Circular line north section & south section have also been approved by the Executive Yuan, and the feasibility study for Circular line east section has been submitted to MOTC, where it is currently under review. Taipei City Government is joining forces in the construction of the city Circular line, as well as the 22.8-km Wanda line making the Taipei MRT route network more optimized.
Taipei City DORTS further explained that Wanda line Phase I runs from its starting point at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Station and terminates at Jincheng Depot in Tucheng District, New Taipei City, it has a total length of 9.5 km, and nine underground stations and one depot will be constructed. Currently, the construction progress for the entire line is normal, and construction is expected to be completed in 2025 with the line opening for operations following initial inspections. As for Phase II construction, all of it will be located in New Taipei City with the routes extending from Phase I construction at Zhonghe Senior High School Station to the Xinzhuang line's Huilong Station located beneath Zhongzheng Road. The 13.3-kilometer route will have two underground stations and 11 elevated stations, and construction is expected to be completed in late 2028.
After construction is completed, the Wanda line will dramatically reduce travel times. For instance, the MRT travel time from Station LG14 at New Taipei City Banshu Gymnasium to Station LG21 (Huilong Station) will be 11 minutes, whereas the bus travel time is approximately 35 minutes. From Station LG14 at New Taipei City Banshu Gymnasium to Station LG01 (Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station) for transfers to the Xindian line/Xinyi line, the MRT travel time will be 27 minutes, whereas the bus travel time is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. The line will satisfy travel requirements between Wanhua, Zhonghe, Yonghe, Tucheng, Banqiao, Shulin, and Xinzhuang districts and will have transfers with the Zhonghe-Xinlu line, Bannan line, Songshan-Xindian line, Tamsui-Xinyi line, and Circular line Phase I. This will not only expand the service scope of the MRT system, but also bring its overall transportation efficiency into full play.