Locale New Taipei, Taiwan Number of lines 2 (under construction) | Transit type Rapid transit Number of stations 20 (planned) | |
Native name Danhai Light Rail Transit System Daily ridership 120,000 daily planned capacity | ||
The Tamsui Light Rail (Chinese: 淡海輕軌; pinyin: Dànhǎi Qīngguǐ) is a light rail transit (LRT) system under construction in Tamsui District, New Taipei, Taiwan.
Contents
History
The system is to provide public transportation to Danhai New Township, whose population is expected to reach 340,000 by 2041.
The initial feasibility study for a heavy-capacity extension line of the Taipei MRT was completed in 1992. Further planning reports were completed in 1998 and 1999. At that time the project was put on hold due to budgetary considerations. In 2005, planning shifted from MRT to LRT. A LRT feasibility study was completed in 2007, with review of funding and operation throughout 2008. The study was completeed and presented for approval to the Executive Yuan in 2010.
The light rail two-stage construction plan by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications was approved by Council for Economic Planning and Development on January 7, 2013. The first phase of the construction began in September 2014.
The system capacity will be 120,000 passengers per day.
Route
The Danhai light rail will consist of the 11 station Green Mountain Line and the 9 station Blue Coast Line. There will be one depot for both lines. Track will be both elevated and surface level. None will be underground as is much of the Taipei MRT. The track will be 13.99 kilometres (8.69 mi) in length.
Green Mountain Line
The Green Mountain Line runs from the Hongshulin Station on the Tamsui Line of the Taipei MRT north and west into Danhai. It follows along Zhongzheng East Road, Provincial Highway No. 2, Binhai Road and Shalun Road. Seven stations will be overhead and the remaining four will be at ground level.
Blue Coast Line
The Blue Coast Line runs from the Tamsui Station on the Tamsui Line of the Taipei MRT north and west to Fisherman's Wharf before connecting with the Green Mountain Line. It follows along Taiwan Route 2B, Binhai Road, and Shalun Road. All nine stations will be at ground level.
Rolling stock
The cars are being built in Taiwan by the Taiwan Rolling Stock Company under the first program to domestically build light rail vehicles. The company is partnering with the German firm Voith Engineering Services on the design of the cars. Final assembly as well as the manufacturing of many components will be done in Taiwan. Taiwan seeks to lessen its dependence on foreign manufacturers for rail systems.
The tram cars are designed with electrical storage capacity so that they can travel short distances under their own power. This feature allows simplification of the overhead power cabling by eliminating the need to run the power cables across major intersections.
There will initially be 15 34.5 metres (113 ft) long bi-directional standard gauge trams. A prototype is scheduled for delivery in 2016. All 15 cars are to be delivered by the end of 2017.
Budget
The light rail was expected to cost NT$15.31 billion, in which NT$1.67 billion will be provided by the central government, NT$7.09 billion by Construction and Planning Agency and NT$6.55 billion by New Taipei City Government when it was approved in 2013. The current estimate is NT$31.357 billion.
Construction
The project is divided into two phases. The first phase is the 11 station Green Mountain Line and part of the Blue Coast Line comprising three stations, totaling 9.7 kilometres (6.0 mi), and the depot, and costs NT$12.8 billion. Work began in September 2014 and as of May 2016 is approximately one-third complete. Completion is expected in late 2018.
The second phase completes the remaining 4.4 kilometres (2.7 mi) and six stations of the Green Ocean Line. Its planned completion is in 2024.
The line is being developed by China Steel Corporation and subsidiaries United Steel Engineering & Construction Corporation and Taiwan Rolling Stock Company. Other contractors are Thales Rail Signalling Solutions for signalling, communications, and control equipment, CTCI Corporation for track work, Pandrol for track, maintenance, and safety equipment, TÜV Rheinland for testing, and ABB for electrical equipment.
Extension
The new Danjiang Bridge over the mouth of the Tamsui River on the Taiwan strait is being designed to accommodate an extension of the Danhai LRT over the river to connect the town of BaLi.