New MRT Plan in Central Taiwan! 3.71km Branch Line Links '5 Major Local Projects' – Netizens Praise: 'Solution to Traffic Hell'

The Taichung MRT Red Line (Chongde-Fengyuan Line) is currently undergoing a feasibility study. The latest news reveals that the MRT Engineering Bureau is considering extending a branch line from the Red Line’s Intercontinental Baseball Stadium Station to the Taichung Waterfront Transfer Center, with a total length of approximately 3.71 kilometers. Once the plan is confirmed, this branch will be incorporated into the feasibility study, linking key facilities such as the Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, Taichung Arena, Green & Beauty Library, Taichung International Exhibition Center, Central Park, and the future Super Dome via the MRT network. The Waterfront Transfer Center will also serve as a stop on the future Orange Line airport metro, providing transfer functionality.

New Branch Line on Taichung MRT Red Line! Five Major Projects Fully Connected

The Taichung MRT Red Line is currently undergoing a feasibility study. MRT Engineering Bureau Director Su Jui-wen stated in April this year, during a councilor’s inquiry, that the study is expected to be submitted to the Ministry of Transportation for review by September. The Red Line will adopt an elevated design, starting from the intersection of Chongde Road and Sanmin Road, running along Chongde Road, Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, Hanshin Department Store, Chengde Road, Fengyuan Avenue Section 1, and Zhongzheng Road, ending at the intersection of Fengyuan Avenue and Zhongzheng Road. The total length is approximately 11.8 kilometers, with 9 elevated stations planned, covering five administrative districts: North District, Beitun District, Tanshui District, Shenhua District, and Fengyuan District. It will connect commercial corridors such as the Yizhong Street Shopping District, Chongde Shopping District, Hanshin Intercontinental Shopping Center, and the Tanyashen Greenway.

According to reports from Liberty Times, city councilors have previously suggested that since the Red Line passes by the Intercontinental Baseball Stadium and is close to the Taichung Arena, why not extend a branch line from the stadium to the Waterfront Transfer Center? The proposed branch line is approximately 3.71 kilometers long and is currently under consideration by the MRT Engineering Bureau. If confirmed, it will be included in the feasibility study. If the branch line is realized, the following major developments will be interconnected via MRT:

- Beitun Intercontinental Baseball Stadium: Mainline stop on the Red Line and starting point of the branch - Taichung Arena: Venue standard comparable to Taipei Arena, located very close to the branch route - Green & Beauty Library: New main library of Taichung City Public Library, a landmark project in the Waterfront Trade Park - Taichung International Exhibition Center: Large-scale exhibition venue located in the Waterfront Trade Park - Central Park: Core landscape park in the Waterfront Trade Park - Waterfront Transfer Center: Future stop on the airport metro Orange Line, enabling cross-line transfers

Additionally, a Super Dome is planned for future construction in the Waterfront Trade Park. If the branch line is completed, it is expected to alleviate post-event transportation congestion through MRT services.

The Taichung City MRT Engineering Bureau is considering extending a branch line from the Intercontinental Baseball Stadium Station on the MRT Red Line (Chongde-Fengyuan Line) to the Taichung Waterfront Transfer Center, approximately 3.71 kilometers long, enabling transfers to the future Orange Line airport metro. Once confirmed, it will be included in the feasibility study, connecting the Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, Taichung Arena, Green & Beauty Library, Taichung International Exhibition Center, Central Park, and the Super Dome via MRT. (Photo by Storm Media)

Online Discussion Heats Up! Calls for Extension to Fengjia, Others Urge Completion of Blue Line First

After news of the branch line plan emerged, it sparked extensive discussions on social media, with public opinion clearly divided. Some netizens expressed optimism, calling the connection between the Waterfront Transfer Center, Taichung Arena, and Intercontinental Baseball Stadium 'quite necessary' and stating 'the traffic nightmare at the Arena may finally be solved.' Others hope the line will eventually extend southward to the Super Dome, Fengjia University, and Qiuhonggu Valley, improving public transportation access to the Fengjia shopping district. Some even anticipate future connections to the Blue Line for transfers. However, technical concerns were also raised, with some questioning, 'How would operations work with a perpendicular intersection between main and branch lines?' and suggesting instead a crossover design allowing the Orange Line to operate a shuttle service.

Many netizens remained cautious, commenting, 'Dreams are beautiful, but when will the second line actually start construction?' and 'Use BRT to build up ridership first,' expressing concerns over the pace of Taichung MRT development. Others pointed out that the Fengjia shopping district is the only major commercial area in Taichung without any MRT plans, urging authorities to include it in future planning.