Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation, which operates the Maokong Gondola, said that it is still waiting to receive maintenance parts from Poma.

Chuang said he questions whether the TRTC can continue to operate the Maokong Gondola after Poma’s technicians leave the country in three months.

The councilor continued to criticize the Maokong Gondola’s lack of air-conditioning and questioned whether the gondola cabins are suitable for Taiwan’s tropical climate.

Chuang said that all of Poma’s other gondola systems are located in high-altitude areas in countries such as Portugal, Ecuador, Columbia and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the TRTC shut down the Maokong Gondola line twice yesterday due to thunderstorms, the first time at around 2:30 p.m. and lasting for some two hours.

The shutdown followed a lightning strike of the gondola line on Monday, which closed the system for some five hours.

Despite the lightning strike, Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin reassured the public and guaranteed that the cable car line is safe.

The Maokong Gondola shut down during its inaugural run last week as Kuomintang presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou, Hau, and a group of officials and reporters were left stranded in mid-air for some nine minutes.

Subscribe to The China Post and save.  Click hereSharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 800 characters max

Receive China Post promos

Respond to this email