Luzhou Branch Line (TRTS)
Encyclopedia
The Taipei Metro
Luzhou Line is a high-capacity, underground branch of the Xinzhuang Line
that runs through Taipei
and New Taipei. It forms part of the Orange Line
and is named for the district of Luzhou where the line terminates. The line originates from Daqiaotou (where it branches off from the Xinzhuang Line). The line is 6.4 km (4 mi) long with 5 underground stations and a maintenance depot.
and it is the first high-capacity line in the system equipped with them.
Although plans were to have the line open for revenue service before the end of 2010, the line began free trial service on November 3, 2010. The line began revenue service from December 3, 2010.
(to Taipei) during rush hour since the opening of the line. During the initial one month trial, bus
routes that ran parallel to the metro route experienced a 40% decrease in ridership, although bus ridership is expected to rise again after the end of the free trial.
In anticipation of the opening of the new line, property prices along the route have risen by 36% since 2008. Although small businesses along the line (most notably in Zhongshan and Datong, two older districts) have benefited from increased business during the free trial period, analysts noted that the initial business boon may only be short-lived and it may be years before these areas see real benefits as a result of the new line.
was used in other sections.
Because of the limits of land availability and the narrowness of the streets above ground, the two tunnels running beneath the Tamsui River were built stacked on top of one another. Floodgates have been installed where the line emerges from underneath the Tamsui River to prevent flooding from spreading to nearby stations.
, "Water" at Sanmin Senior High School Station
, "Reeds" at St. Ignatius High School Station
, "Sand" at Sanhe Junior High School Station
, and "Garden" at Sanchong Elementary School Station
.
To present this theme, many paintings and screen prints of egrets are used. Furthermore, vent shafts are shaped into images of sands and hills.
Taipei Rapid Transit System
The Taipei Metro, more commonly known as the MRT or formally as the Taipei Rapid Transit System, is a rapid transit system serving metropolitan Taipei in Taiwan. The system is built and operated by the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation and consists of 89 stations and of revenue track...
Luzhou Line is a high-capacity, underground branch of the Xinzhuang Line
Xinzhuang Line (TRTS)
The Taipei Metro Xinzhuang Line is a high-capacity underground extension of the Zhonghe Line on the Taipei Metro currently under construction in Taiwan. As of September 2010, it is 91.81% complete...
that runs through Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
and New Taipei. It forms part of the Orange Line
Orange Line (TRTS)
The Orange Line consists of three lines of the Taipei Metro in Taiwan : the Zhonghe Line , the Xinzhuang Line, and the Luzhou Line . As of July 2011, two segments of the Xinzhuang Line are still under construction and are expected to completely open by 2014...
and is named for the district of Luzhou where the line terminates. The line originates from Daqiaotou (where it branches off from the Xinzhuang Line). The line is 6.4 km (4 mi) long with 5 underground stations and a maintenance depot.
Overview
Due to heavy traffic for residents in the districts of Luzhou and Sanchong traveling in and out of downtown Taipei, a rapid transit line was constructed to meet this urgent need. Although the Luzhou Line is technically only the section from Daqiaotou to Luzhou, the Xinzhuang Line section is commonly included as part of the Luzhou Line. All stations are equipped with platform screen doorsPlatform screen doors
Platform screen doors and platform edge doors at train or subway stations screen the platform from the train. They are a relatively new addition to many metro systems around the world, with some platform doors retrofitted rather than installed with the metro system itself. They are widely used in...
and it is the first high-capacity line in the system equipped with them.
Although plans were to have the line open for revenue service before the end of 2010, the line began free trial service on November 3, 2010. The line began revenue service from December 3, 2010.
Impact
Since its first three weeks after opening, the line (along with the Xinzhuang Line section) had reached a total ridership of over 3 million passengers, with an average of 157,000 passengers per day. It is expected to cut travel time between Luzhou and Taipei by at least half, with travel time between Luzhou and Taipei Main Station cut down to 17 minutes. The system surpassed an annual ridership of 500 million for the first time on December 29, 2010, widely attributed to the opening of the new line. The line has been effective in relieving congestion, with a 24% increase in average vehicle speed crossing Taipei BridgeTaipei Bridge
Taipei Bridge is a motor-vehicle bridge across the Tamsui River connecting Taipei with Sanchong District, New Taipei City in Taiwan.A central span carries automobile and some motorcycle traffic while narrower spans on either side carry most motorcycle traffic along with bicycle pedestrian traffic...
(to Taipei) during rush hour since the opening of the line. During the initial one month trial, bus
Taipei bus
The Taipei Joint Bus System is a bus system that serves the greater metropolitan area of Taipei, Taiwan. It is administered by the Taipei Joint Bus Service Management Center, the Taipei City Traffic Bureau, and the New Taipei City Traffic Bureau , and is operated by 15 private agencies...
routes that ran parallel to the metro route experienced a 40% decrease in ridership, although bus ridership is expected to rise again after the end of the free trial.
In anticipation of the opening of the new line, property prices along the route have risen by 36% since 2008. Although small businesses along the line (most notably in Zhongshan and Datong, two older districts) have benefited from increased business during the free trial period, analysts noted that the initial business boon may only be short-lived and it may be years before these areas see real benefits as a result of the new line.
Construction
The cut-and-cover method was used in the construction of stations and turnout sections, while the shield tunneling methodTunnelling shield
A tunnelling shield is a protective structure used in the excavation of tunnels through soil that is too soft or fluid to remain stable during the time it takes to line the tunnel with a support structure of concrete, cast iron or steel...
was used in other sections.
Because of the limits of land availability and the narrowness of the streets above ground, the two tunnels running beneath the Tamsui River were built stacked on top of one another. Floodgates have been installed where the line emerges from underneath the Tamsui River to prevent flooding from spreading to nearby stations.
History
Although the line was called the Luzhou Branch Line during construction, the name was changed to simply the Luzhou Line before it opened for service.- 2002: The Luzhou and XinzhuangXinzhuang Line (TRTS)The Taipei Metro Xinzhuang Line is a high-capacity underground extension of the Zhonghe Line on the Taipei Metro currently under construction in Taiwan. As of September 2010, it is 91.81% complete...
lines begin construction as part of Phase II development of the Taipei Metro. - September 2007: Track laying begins for the Luzhou Line.
- September 25, 2008: Since track laying has been completed for the Luzhou Line, tracks are laid for the segment of the Xinzhuang Line within Taipei.
- April 1, 2009: Train testing begins for the Luzhou Line and the segment of the Xinzhuang Line within Taipei.
- August 22, 2009: It is announced that although the line was to come into operation before the Spring Festival of 2010, due to malfunctions in the Neihu LineNeihu Line (TRTS)The Taipei Metro Neihu Line is a medium-capacity rapid transit system and runs on an elevated corridor except near Songshan Airport and Dazhi. The line's service length is and it is joined to the Wenshan Line at Zhongshan Junior High School Station, providing direct service through Neihu, Nangang,...
, service for the line would be pushed back to September 2010. - April 24, 2009: The Department of Rapid Transit Systems (DORTS) denies saying that the line would open before the Spring Festival in 2010. The Executive Yuan sets the line to begin service by December 31, 2010. DORTS says it will push forward with an anticipated September 2010 opening date.
- March 2, 2010: DORTS says that the line is planned to open by September 1, 2010 in order to coincide with the Flora ExpoTaipei International Flora ExpositionThe 2010 Taipei International Flora Exposition opened on November 6, 2010 and ran until April 25, 2011 in Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. It is a garden festival recognized by the International Association of Horticultural Producers and is categorized as an A2B1 horticulture exposition...
. It will use the Taoyuan International Airport MRT's power as backup, so that by November 2010 the Xinzhuang Line can begin train testing through TouqianzhuangTouqianzhuang StationThe Taipei Metro Touqianzhuang Station is a planned junction station on the Xinzhuang Line and Circular Line located in Xinzhuang District, New Taipei, Taiwan. The station is scheduled to open in March 2012.-Station overview:...
. - May 2010: Construction for Sanchong Elementary SchoolSanchong Elementary School StationThe Taipei Metro Sanchong Elementary School Station is a station on the Luzhou Line located in Sanchong District, New Taipei, Taiwan. The station opened for service on November 3, 2010.-Station overview:...
, Sanhe Junior High SchoolSanhe Junior High School StationThe Taipei Metro Sanhe Junior High School Station is a station on the Luzhou Line located in Sanchong District, New Taipei, Taiwan. The station is opened for service on November 3, 2010.-Station overview:...
, LuzhouLuzhou StationThe Taipei Metro Luzhou Station is the terminal station on the Luzhou Line, located in Luzhou, New Taipei, Taiwan.-Station overview:This two-level, underground station is located at the intersection of Sanmin Road and Zhongzheng Road and opened on November 03, 2010...
, and Luzhou Depot is completed. Construction for Sanmin Senior High SchoolSanmin Senior High School StationThe Taipei Metro Sanmin Senior High School Station is a station on the Luzhou Line located in Luzhou, New Taipei, Taiwan.-Station overview:...
and St. Ignatius High SchoolSt. Ignatius High School StationThe Taipei Metro St. Ignatius High School Station is a station on the Luzhou Line located in Luzhou, New Taipei, Taiwan. The station opened on November 3, 2010. It is also a planned transfer station with the Circular Line.-Station overview:...
is finishing up. - June 30, 2010: Construction finishes on all stations.
- July 2010: Train testing begins.
- September 4–5, 2010: The Luzhou Line and Xinzhuang Line city portion (to Zhongxiao Xinsheng) undergoes initial public testing.
- November 3, 2010: The line opens for service with the opening of the Luzhou to Zhongxiao Xinsheng section. A free trial period for the line will run until December 2, 2010.
- December 3, 2010: The line began revenue service.
Stations
| Code | |Station Name | |Transfer | |Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | |Chinese Chinese language The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages... |
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| Luzhou Line | |||||
| O43 | Luzhou Luzhou Station The Taipei Metro Luzhou Station is the terminal station on the Luzhou Line, located in Luzhou, New Taipei, Taiwan.-Station overview:This two-level, underground station is located at the intersection of Sanmin Road and Zhongzheng Road and opened on November 03, 2010... |
蘆洲 | Luzhou | New Taipei | |
| O44 | Sanmin Senior High School Sanmin Senior High School Station The Taipei Metro Sanmin Senior High School Station is a station on the Luzhou Line located in Luzhou, New Taipei, Taiwan.-Station overview:... (National Open University) |
三民高中 (空中大學) |
|||
| O45 | St. Ignatius High School St. Ignatius High School Station The Taipei Metro St. Ignatius High School Station is a station on the Luzhou Line located in Luzhou, New Taipei, Taiwan. The station opened on November 3, 2010. It is also a planned transfer station with the Circular Line.-Station overview:... |
徐匯中學 | ■ Circular Line Circular Line (TRTS) The Taipei Metro Circular Line is an elevated, medium-capacity rapid transit in Taipei and New Taipei, Taiwan. It is currently under construction with the first section scheduled to open in 2015... (planned) |
||
| O46 | Sanhe Junior High School Sanhe Junior High School Station The Taipei Metro Sanhe Junior High School Station is a station on the Luzhou Line located in Sanchong District, New Taipei, Taiwan. The station is opened for service on November 3, 2010.-Station overview:... |
三和國中 | Sanchong | ||
| O47 | Sanchong Elementary School Sanchong Elementary School Station The Taipei Metro Sanchong Elementary School Station is a station on the Luzhou Line located in Sanchong District, New Taipei, Taiwan. The station opened for service on November 3, 2010.-Station overview:... |
三重國小 | |||
| O8 | Daqiaotou (Daqiao Elementary School) |
大橋頭 (大橋國小) |
■ Xinzhuang Line Xinzhuang Line (TRTS) The Taipei Metro Xinzhuang Line is a high-capacity underground extension of the Zhonghe Line on the Taipei Metro currently under construction in Taiwan. As of September 2010, it is 91.81% complete... |
Datong | Taipei Taipei Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean... |
| → Continues through to the ■ Xinzhuang Line Xinzhuang Line (TRTS) The Taipei Metro Xinzhuang Line is a high-capacity underground extension of the Zhonghe Line on the Taipei Metro currently under construction in Taiwan. As of September 2010, it is 91.81% complete... (toward Zhongxiao Xinsheng Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station The Taipei Metro Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station is a transfer station for the Nangang Line and the Xinzhuang Line located in the Da'an and Zhongzheng districts in Taipei, Taiwan.-Station overview:... ) |
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Station Design
The stations along the Luzhou Line were designed along the common theme of egrets. To highlight each station's characteristics, a series of subthemes were created: "Wind" at Luzhou StationLuzhou Station
The Taipei Metro Luzhou Station is the terminal station on the Luzhou Line, located in Luzhou, New Taipei, Taiwan.-Station overview:This two-level, underground station is located at the intersection of Sanmin Road and Zhongzheng Road and opened on November 03, 2010...
, "Water" at Sanmin Senior High School Station
Sanmin Senior High School Station
The Taipei Metro Sanmin Senior High School Station is a station on the Luzhou Line located in Luzhou, New Taipei, Taiwan.-Station overview:...
, "Reeds" at St. Ignatius High School Station
St. Ignatius High School Station
The Taipei Metro St. Ignatius High School Station is a station on the Luzhou Line located in Luzhou, New Taipei, Taiwan. The station opened on November 3, 2010. It is also a planned transfer station with the Circular Line.-Station overview:...
, "Sand" at Sanhe Junior High School Station
Sanhe Junior High School Station
The Taipei Metro Sanhe Junior High School Station is a station on the Luzhou Line located in Sanchong District, New Taipei, Taiwan. The station is opened for service on November 3, 2010.-Station overview:...
, and "Garden" at Sanchong Elementary School Station
Sanchong Elementary School Station
The Taipei Metro Sanchong Elementary School Station is a station on the Luzhou Line located in Sanchong District, New Taipei, Taiwan. The station opened for service on November 3, 2010.-Station overview:...
.
To present this theme, many paintings and screen prints of egrets are used. Furthermore, vent shafts are shaped into images of sands and hills.
Depot
The location for the depot was originally an agricultural area. In preparation for the construction of the depot, all buildings on the site were scheduled for demolition. Through coordination and negotiation between the landowners and DORTS, the land for the depot was acquired ahead of the scheduled deadline. The Luzhou Line Linear Park is located above the metro tunnel as trains head into the depot for a total length of 900 m (2,952.8 ft).See also
- Xinzhuang LineXinzhuang Line (TRTS)The Taipei Metro Xinzhuang Line is a high-capacity underground extension of the Zhonghe Line on the Taipei Metro currently under construction in Taiwan. As of September 2010, it is 91.81% complete...