THE latest addition to the growing metro network in New Taipei, the 14.3km Sanying Line, opened to passengers on a limited trial basis on June 30. Passengers are able to travel for free on the line during the trial period, which will run until August 31.

New Taipei City mayor, Hou You-yi, along with officials from central government, the New Taipei Metro Bureau, which oversaw construction, the line’s operator, New Taipei Metro Corporation, and local representatives, witnessed the official lighting of the 12 stations along the line during the opening ceremony.

The elevated line is the first fully automated light metro in the city, which is located in the southwest suburbs of Taipei, to the southeast of Taoyuan.

Running from Yingtao to Dingpu, the line spans three major administrative districts, Tucheng, Sanxia, ​​and Yingge, connecting tourist landmarks such as the New Taipei City Art Museum, Yingge Ceramics Old Street, and Sanxia Old Street. Transfers are possible to the 26.6km Bannan Line at Dingpu, providing connectivity to Taipei Main Station in the city centre.

Services are initially running from 10.00-20.00 at approximately six-minute intervals at peak times and eight minutes off peak. After the trial phase, services will run from 06.00 until 0.00.

ARH Consortium

The Sanying Line is served by 29 two-car trains supplied by Hitachi, which is part of the ARH Consortium that was awarded a contract for the line in 2016. Hitachi also equipped the line with CBTC, telecoms, power supplies, platform screen doors, automatic fare collection system, Scada and depot equipment under a turnkey contract originally awarded to Ansaldo STS. ARH also includes RSEA Engineering.

Construction on the line commenced in 2016 and was described by Taipei’s Department of Rapid Transit Systems (Dorts) as extremely challenging. The project included constructing the elevated line across two national highways, two mainline railways, and four rivers including the Dahan. Dorts adds that the project, which was originally scheduled to open in 2023, was impeded by the Covid-19 pandemic and post-pandemic labour and material shortages, as well as rising raw material prices due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Opening of the Sanying Line takes the total metro length in Taipei to more than 100km. Four new lines have opened over the last eight years, with seven further projects under construction.

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