Preperations for the TRTS got underway back in early 1986, when the Executive Yuan completed preliminary plans for the network and approved their implementation. The systems, comprising five lines with a total legth of 88 km, are scheduled to be completed by 2005 at a cost of US$ 18 billion. French contractor MATRA started work an the first TRTS line (the Mucha Line) in July 1988. The Mucha Line began revenue service on March 28, 1996.
These mass transit systems were initially designed to alleviate urban traffic in downtown Taipei and to encourage people to move from the metropolitan area to the outlying suburbs.
The TRTS lines all share the common feature of being able to transport a large number of passengers. With the exception of the Mucha Line, which runs four-car trains, all lines will operate six-car trains, giving each train a maximum of 2200 passengers. Hourly capacity will thus vary between 20.000 and 60.000  people per direction per hour, depending on the frequency of trains. Train speeds range from 25 to 80 kilometers per hour, and the distances between stations varies from 800 to 1000 meters downtown to 1000 to 2000 meters in the suburbs.

The R.O.C. Yearbook: Transportation

To view this map, click on the picture to the right.

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