Crowds pack Neihu line on first day of operations

Droves of passengers filed into Neihu-line stations yesterday to ride the new transport system. Some waited in line for more than one hour prior to the launching at 9 a.m. to ride on the first train leaving the Nangang Exhibition Center station.

Over 100 early passengers, however, had even more thrills as they were trapped in a train that stopped in a dark tunnel for about 10 minutes.

The train was traveling away from Taipei Zoo on the Muzha line when it was stopped by a false warning signal for track obstructions between Xinhai and Linguang stations at around 10:08 a.m., said the report.

Although the problem was resolved in about 10 minutes, it caused serious delays until 10:40 a.m. for later trains. Some passengers at Zongxiao Fuxing station had to wait 20 minutes for a train to arrive, continued the report.

Outside the MRT, people lined up for up to 17 hours at nearby shopping centers for promotions offered in celebration of the Neihu line's opening.

A shopping center by Jiannan Road Station sold 505 special discount packages including five hotel-stay vouchers, valued at NT$4,500 for only NT$5, said the report.

Another large retailer close to Jiannan Road Station offered breakfast to shoppers who took its shuttle buses from the station to its store. The retailer projects over a 50-percent increase in sales after the opening of the Neihu line.

Real estate agents working along the new MRT line are similarly predicting increases for property prices. The new MRT line has already boosted property values in the last two years for areas along the line.

Neihu's property prices rose 8.4 percentage points this year, the most of all the Taipei city districts. Property brokers predict, however, that the prices may rise another 10 percent before the end of the year, after the opening of the Neihu line, said the report.

The Neihu line, extending 14.8 kilometers, took over six years to finish. Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin said that it completes Taipei City's metro network by extending it to all 12 of the city's districts.

The new line adds 10 new stations beyond Zhongshan Junior High School to the Muzha line, connecting Taipei Songshan Airport and the Nangang Exhibition Center.

“Because of the Neihu Line, the lives of Taipei residents will become more diverse and convenient,” Hau said, noting that it will now take only 12 minutes to travel from the Taipei Main Station to Songshan Airport.

Besides the convenience, the line also offers scenic panoramas of the Neihu district and a concentration of public art. Six of the new stations are themed either in architectural design or art displays.

From July 4 to 6, passengers taking Taipei MRT using the EasyCard will receive a 50-percent discount on train fares.

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