Northern New Metro Arrives! Taoyuan Line Eastern Extension to Open on August 30 with Free Ride Promotion Revealed

The Taipei Metro network, long challenged by complex construction, has reached a major milestone. On the 20th, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an officially announced during a special report at the Taipei City Council that the Xinyi East Extension of the Tamsui-Xinyi Line will open on August 30.

Mayor Chiang stated that the Xinyi East Extension faced extremely complex geological structures and numerous construction challenges, making it one of the most difficult sections in metro history. The city government officially received operational approval from the Ministry of Transportation on August 18. He expressed deep gratitude to the experts and scholars for their rigorous review and to the construction teams for their full commitment. Upon opening, various fare discount measures will be launched to benefit the public.

How challenging was the Xinyi East Extension construction? What challenges did the 10-story underground depth and station specifications present?

Construction on the Xinyi East Extension began in 2016 (Minguo Year 105), with a total route length of approximately 1.4 kilometers. Starting from Xiangshan Station, the high-capacity underground line extends eastward along Xinyi Road Section 6 to the Guangci Bo'ai Park area on Fude Street. The extension includes Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station and a crossover track, with a terminal track extending further east to Zhongpo South Road and Yucheng Park.

Contractors noted that the area's geology includes hard rock layers, soft clay layers, and mixed soil-rock formations. Excavation depth reaches 10 stories underground, and the station structure is twice the size of a standard high-capacity metro station. This makes it the most technically challenging section in Taipei Metro's construction history.

What stages did the inspection process go through? What free-ride benefits will be available after opening?

The Xinyi East Extension completed its preliminary inspection in mid-May. The Ministry of Transportation conducted a final inspection on August 1, listing 28 items requiring improvement. The Metro Bureau completed all improvements by August 13 and submitted the report to the inspection committee and the Ministry. Operational approval was officially granted on August 18.

Regarding the much-anticipated fare rebate mechanism, Taipei Metro Company plans to introduce a free-ride policy for the new section during the initial phase. Passengers traveling between Xiangshan Station and Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station, or making same-station entry and exit at Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station, will enjoy fare-free rides. This initiative aims to encourage citizens to actively use the new network for commuting and transfers.