Luzhou Line, Taipei Metro
Luzhou Line, Taipei Metro | |||
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Luzhou Station Platform | |||
Overview | |||
Type | Rapid transit | ||
Locale | Taipei and New Taipei, Taiwan | ||
Termini |
Luzhou Daqiaotou | ||
Stations | 5 | ||
Operation | |||
Opened | November 3, 2010 | ||
Operator(s) | Taipei Rapid Transit System | ||
Character | Underground | ||
Depot(s) | Luzhou Depot | ||
Rolling stock |
Kawasaki C371 3 cars per set, 2 sets per train | ||
Technical | |||
Line length | 6.4 km (4.0 mi) | ||
Number of tracks | 2 | ||
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) | ||
Electrification | Third rail (750 volts DC) | ||
Operating speed | 80 km/h |
Luzhou Line, Taipei Metro | |||||||||||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 蘆洲線 | ||||||||||||||||
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Simplified Chinese | 芦洲线 | ||||||||||||||||
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The Taipei Metro Luzhou Line is a high-capacity, underground branch of the Xinzhuang Line that runs through Taipei and New Taipei. It forms part of the Orange Line and is named for the district of Luzhou where the line terminates. The line originates from Daqiaotou (where it branches off from the Xinzhuang Line). The line is 6.4 km (4.0 mi) long with 5 underground stations and a maintenance depot.[1]
Overview
Due to heavy traffic for residents in the districts of Luzhou and Sanchong traveling in and out of downtown Taipei, a rapid transit line was constructed to meet this urgent need.[2] Although the Luzhou Line is technically only the section from Daqiaotou to Luzhou, the Xinzhuang Line section is commonly included as part of the Luzhou Line. All stations are equipped with platform screen doors and it is the first high-capacity line in the system equipped with them.
Although plans were to have the line open for revenue service before the end of 2010, the line began free trial service on November 3, 2010.[3] The line began revenue service from December 3, 2010.[4]
Impact
Since its first three weeks after opening, the line (along with the Xinzhuang Line section) had reached a total ridership of over 3 million passengers, with an average of 157,000 passengers per day.[5] It is expected to cut travel time between Luzhou and Taipei by at least half,[6] with travel time between Luzhou and Taipei Main Station cut down to 17 minutes.[7] The system surpassed an annual ridership of 500 million for the first time on December 29, 2010, widely attributed to the opening of the new line.[8] The line has been effective in relieving congestion, with a 24% increase in average vehicle speed crossing Taipei Bridge (to Taipei) during rush hour since the opening of the line.[9] During the initial one-month trial, bus routes that ran parallel to the metro route experienced a 40% decrease in ridership, although bus ridership is expected to rise again after the end of the free trial.[10]
In anticipation of the opening of the new line, property prices along the route have risen by 36% since 2008.[11] Although small businesses along the line (most notably in Zhongshan and Datong, two older districts) have benefited from increased business during the free trial period, analysts noted that the initial business boon may only be short-lived and it may be years before these areas see real benefits as a result of the new line.[12]
Construction
The cut-and-cover method was used in the construction of stations and turnout sections, while the shield tunneling method was used in other sections.[7]
Because of the limits of land availability and the narrowness of the streets above ground, the two tunnels running beneath the Tamsui River were built stacked on top of one another.[7] Floodgates have been installed where the line emerges from underneath the Tamsui River to prevent flooding from spreading to nearby stations.[13]
History
Although the line was called the Luzhou Branch Line during construction, the name was changed to simply the Luzhou Line before it opened for service.
- 2002: The Luzhou and Xinzhuang lines begin construction as part of Phase II development of the Taipei Metro.[3]
- September 2007: Track laying begins for the Luzhou Line.
- September 25, 2008: Since track laying has been completed for the Luzhou Line, tracks are laid for the segment of the Xinzhuang Line within Taipei.
- April 1, 2009: Train testing begins for the Luzhou Line and the segment of the Xinzhuang Line within Taipei.
- August 22, 2009: It is announced that although the line was to come into operation before the Spring Festival of 2010, due to malfunctions in the Neihu Line, service for the line would be pushed back to September 2010.[14]
- April 24, 2009: The Department of Rapid Transit Systems (DORTS) denies saying that the line would open before the Spring Festival in 2010. The Executive Yuan sets the line to begin service by December 31, 2010. DORTS says it will push forward with an anticipated September 2010 opening date.[15]
- March 2, 2010: DORTS says that the line is planned to open by September 1, 2010 in order to coincide with the Flora Expo. It will use the Taoyuan International Airport MRT's power as backup, so that by November 2010 the Xinzhuang Line can begin train testing through Touqianzhuang.[15]
- May 2010: Construction for Sanchong Elementary School, Sanhe Junior High School, Luzhou, and Luzhou Depot is completed. Construction for Sanmin Senior High School and St. Ignatius High School is finishing up.
- June 30, 2010: Construction finishes on all stations.
- July 2010: Train testing begins.
- September 4–5, 2010: The Luzhou Line and Xinzhuang Line city portion (to Zhongxiao Xinsheng) undergoes initial public testing.[16]
- November 3, 2010: The line opens for service with the opening of the Luzhou to Zhongxiao Xinsheng section.[3] A free trial period for the line ran until December 2, 2010.[17]
- December 3, 2010: The line began revenue service.[4]
Stations
Code | Station Name | Transfer | Location | ||
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English | Chinese | ||||
O54 | Luzhou | 蘆洲 | Luzhou | New Taipei | |
O53 | Sanmin Senior High School (National Open University) | 三民高中 (空中大學) |
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O52 | St. Ignatius High School | 徐匯中學 | Circular (TBD) | ||
O51 | Sanhe Junior High School | 三和國中 | Sanchong | ||
O50 | Sanchong Elementary School | 三重國小 | |||
O12 | Daqiaotou (Daqiao Elementary School) | 大橋頭 (大橋國小) |
Datong | Taipei | |
→ Continues through Xinzhuang than Zhonghe | |||||
Station Design
The stations along the Luzhou Line were designed along the common theme of egrets.[7] To highlight each station's characteristics, a series of subthemes were created: "Wind" at Luzhou Station, "Water" at Sanmin Senior High School Station, "Reeds" at St. Ignatius High School Station, "Sand" at Sanhe Junior High School Station, and "Garden" at Sanchong Elementary School Station.
To present this theme, many paintings and screen prints of egrets are used. Furthermore, vent shafts are shaped into images of sands and hills.
Depot
The location for the depot was originally an agricultural area. In preparation for the construction of the depot, all buildings on the site were scheduled for demolition.[18] Through coordination and negotiation between the landowners and DORTS, the land for the depot was acquired ahead of the scheduled deadline. The Luzhou Line Linear Park is located above the metro tunnel as trains head into the depot for a total length of 900 m (3,000 ft).[19]
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Luzhou Line. |
References
- ↑ "Taipei Metro Network: Orange Line". Department of Rapid Transit Systems. 2010-11-11. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
- ↑ "Introduction to the MRT Luzhou Line". Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation. 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
- 1 2 3 "MRT Luzhou line to open Nov. 3". Taipei Times. 2010-10-28. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
- 1 2 "MRT Luzhou Line free trial month comes to an end". Taipei Times. 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
- ↑ "蘆洲線試乘 已逾305萬人次". UDN. 2010-11-25. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "President offers congratulations on opening of MRT Luzhou Line". Focus Taiwan News Channel. 2010-11-03. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
- 1 2 3 4 "捷運系統蘆洲線簡介" (PDF). Department of Rapid Transit Systems, Taipei City Government. 2007-12-01. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
- ↑ "Record breaking year for Taipei's MRT network". The China Post. 2010-12-30. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
- ↑ 張家嘯 (2010-11-26). "蘆洲線試乘破305萬 橘色路線圖沒標錯". CardU 焦點新聞. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
- ↑ "蘆洲線捷運搶客 公車載量掉四成". The Liberty Times. 2010-12-08. Retrieved 2010-12-08.
- ↑ "Luzhou Line property value rises through the roof". The China Post. 2010-09-03. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
- ↑ "Luzhou Line boom may be short-lived: vendors". Taipei Times. 2010-11-27. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
- ↑ "蘆洲站出土段防洪閘門". Department of Rapid Transit Systems. 2009-08-01. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
- ↑ "捷運蘆洲支線 延明年9月通車-聯合新聞網". Retrieved 8 February 2009.
- 1 2 "北捷蘆洲支線9月通車 新莊線試駛頭前庄站(2010.03.02)". Retrieved 2 March 2010.
- ↑ "捷運蘆洲支線9月3和4日初勘 台北市政府捷運工程局". Retrieved 2010-09-03.
- ↑ "Taipei MRT's Luzhou Line to start operations Wednesday afternoon". Focus Taiwan News Channel. 2010-11-02. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
- ↑ "Demolition Operations at Luzhou Depot Site". Department of Rapid Transit Systems. 2010-12-08.
- ↑ "Wind Rising and Reed Waving in the Green Park—Luzhou Line Linear Park". Department of Rapid Transit Systems. 2009-12-01. Retrieved 2010-12-08.