Transportation in Taiwan
Encyclopedia
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications
of the Republic of China
is the cabinet level (as one of the ministries of the Executive Yuan
) governing body for the transportation network of Taiwan
and the rest of the Republic of China (ROC).
1,496 km (2003) (all on the island of Taiwan)
and the KMRT
in Kaohsiung
are the only two operational rapid transit
systems in Taiwan. Several other cities in Taiwan, including Taoyuan
and Taichung
, are have metro systems under construction. In addition, the TRA is planning on introducing commuter services that run similar to rapid transit systems, including moving its lines underground in central Kaohsiung.
Taipei Metro 台北捷運 1996 The Taipei Metro runs on an extensive network of VAL and elevated/underground metro systems throughout the metropolitan area of Taipei. Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit 高雄捷運 2008 The KMRT runs a metro network throughout the metropolitan area of Kaohsiung. The Red Line is in operation as of March 9, 2008. The Orange Line opened on September 14, 2008. Now another light rail system in downtown Kaohsiung are planned.
Taiwan Taoyuan International, Airport Access MRT System 台灣桃園機場, 聯外捷運系統 2013 (planned) This line will connect from Taipei Main Station, throughing Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, and THSR Taoyuan Station to Zhongli. Taoyuan Mass Rapid Transit System 桃園捷運 2013 (planned) A section of route had merged into the Airport MRT System, with the extension currently under construction. More lines are still in the planning phase. Taichung Metropolitan Area MRT System 台中捷運 2015 (planned) The green line project was approved in 2004. It is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion by 2015. Tainan Mass Rapid Transit System 台南捷運 Due to the slower decrease of population, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has postponed this project in January 2010. Hsinchu Mass Rapid, Transit System 新竹捷運 Due to the slower decrease of population, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has postponed this project in January 2010.
The Taiwan High Speed Rail
(THSR) commenced operations on January 5, 2007, after some delays in 2006. The THSR connects Taipei City in the northeast of the island of Taiwan to Kaohsiung City in the southwest. The journey time is about 90 minutes compared to 4 hours by conventional rail. 30 Shinkansen Class 700T sets are running on the 345 km HSL, with station stops at Taipei Main station, Banciao, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan and Zuoying near Kaoshiung. Four additional stations are planned: Nangang in eastern Taipei, Miaoli, Changhua and Yunlin. In 2008 THSR increased the number of trains to 88 per day, each way.
The Shinkansen 700T is similar to the Japanese 700 Nozomi. It operates in 12 car sets (9 powered, 3 trailers) at a speed limit of 300 km/h over standard gauge 1435 mm track. OCS power is 25 kV AC
60Hz.
length of runways:
Major ports: Hualien, Kaohsiung
, Keelung
, Taichung
Other ports: Anping
, Su-ao, Taipei
Interior ports: Budai
, Magong
Merchant marine:
235 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,827,173 GRT/ (2003)
ships by type:
Ministry of Transportation and Communications (Republic of China)
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Republic of China is a cabinet-level governmental body of the Executive Yuan. It is in charge of all policy and regulation of transportation and communications networks and administration of all transportation and communications operations...
of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
is the cabinet level (as one of the ministries of the Executive Yuan
Executive Yuan
The Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...
) governing body for the transportation network of Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and the rest of the Republic of China (ROC).
Roads
- Total length: 38,197 km (2005)
- National highway: 901 km
- Provincial highway: 4,680 km
- highways: 20,947 km (including 872 km of freeways)
- urban roads: 16,395, km
Railways
Total:1,496 km (2003) (all on the island of Taiwan)
- Taiwan Railway AdministrationTaiwan Railway AdministrationThe Taiwan Railway Administration is an agency of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Republic of China responsible for managing, maintaining, and running passenger and freight service on 1097 km of conventional railroad lines in Taiwan...
: 1,097 km of gauge - Taiwan High Speed RailTaiwan High Speed RailTaiwan High Speed Rail is a high-speed rail line that runs approximately along the west coast of the Republic of China from the national capital of Taipei to the southern city of Kaohsiung...
: 354 km of gauge - Kaohsiung Mass Rapid TransitKaohsiung Mass Rapid TransitThe Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit System is a rapid transit system covering metropolitan Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Construction of the KMRT started in October 2001. The Red Line and the Orange Line opened on March 9 and September 14, 2008, respectively...
: 40.4 km of gauge - Taiwan Sugar CorporationTaiwan Sugar RailwaysThe Taiwan Sugar Railways were an extensive series of gauge narrow gauge railways concentrated mostly in southern and central Taiwan which were originally built to haul sugarcane from the fields to the sugar mills, but also capable of providing limited passenger service.-Operations:Typically,...
: 240 km of gauge - Taipei Rapid Transit SystemTaipei Rapid Transit SystemThe 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...
: 76.6 km of gauge - Forestry BureauAlishan Forest RailwayThe Alishan Forest Railway is an 86 km network of narrow-gauge railways running up to and throughout the popular mountain resort of Alishan in Chiayi County, Taiwan...
: 86 km of gauge
Metro
Currently, the Taipei Metro in TaipeiTaipei
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 the KMRT
Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit
The Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit System is a rapid transit system covering metropolitan Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Construction of the KMRT started in October 2001. The Red Line and the Orange Line opened on March 9 and September 14, 2008, respectively...
in Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
are the only two operational rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
systems in Taiwan. Several other cities in Taiwan, including Taoyuan
Taoyuan City
Taoyuan City is the county seat of Taoyuan County in Taiwan, located in the northwestern part of the island. Taoyuan city is the gateway of Taiwan: with the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in vicinity, and is a 30-minute ride to the capital, Taipei....
and Taichung
Taichung
-Demographics:Taichung’s population was an estimated 1,040,725 in August 2006. There are slightly more females in the city than males.24.32% of residents are children, while 16.63% are young people, 52.68% are middle-age, and 6.73% are elderly....
, are have metro systems under construction. In addition, the TRA is planning on introducing commuter services that run similar to rapid transit systems, including moving its lines underground in central Kaohsiung.
Taipei Metro 台北捷運 1996 The Taipei Metro runs on an extensive network of VAL and elevated/underground metro systems throughout the metropolitan area of Taipei. Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit 高雄捷運 2008 The KMRT runs a metro network throughout the metropolitan area of Kaohsiung. The Red Line is in operation as of March 9, 2008. The Orange Line opened on September 14, 2008. Now another light rail system in downtown Kaohsiung are planned.
Taiwan Taoyuan International, Airport Access MRT System 台灣桃園機場, 聯外捷運系統 2013 (planned) This line will connect from Taipei Main Station, throughing Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, and THSR Taoyuan Station to Zhongli. Taoyuan Mass Rapid Transit System 桃園捷運 2013 (planned) A section of route had merged into the Airport MRT System, with the extension currently under construction. More lines are still in the planning phase. Taichung Metropolitan Area MRT System 台中捷運 2015 (planned) The green line project was approved in 2004. It is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion by 2015. Tainan Mass Rapid Transit System 台南捷運 Due to the slower decrease of population, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has postponed this project in January 2010. Hsinchu Mass Rapid, Transit System 新竹捷運 Due to the slower decrease of population, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has postponed this project in January 2010.
High speed rail
The Taiwan High Speed Rail
Taiwan High Speed Rail
Taiwan High Speed Rail is a high-speed rail line that runs approximately along the west coast of the Republic of China from the national capital of Taipei to the southern city of Kaohsiung...
(THSR) commenced operations on January 5, 2007, after some delays in 2006. The THSR connects Taipei City in the northeast of the island of Taiwan to Kaohsiung City in the southwest. The journey time is about 90 minutes compared to 4 hours by conventional rail. 30 Shinkansen Class 700T sets are running on the 345 km HSL, with station stops at Taipei Main station, Banciao, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan and Zuoying near Kaoshiung. Four additional stations are planned: Nangang in eastern Taipei, Miaoli, Changhua and Yunlin. In 2008 THSR increased the number of trains to 88 per day, each way.
The Shinkansen 700T is similar to the Japanese 700 Nozomi. It operates in 12 car sets (9 powered, 3 trailers) at a speed limit of 300 km/h over standard gauge 1435 mm track. OCS power is 25 kV AC
25 kV AC
The 25 kV Alternating current railway electrification system is commonly used in railways worldwide, especially for high-speed rail.-Overview:This electrification system is ideal for railways that cover long distances and/or carry heavy traffic...
60Hz.
Airports
Total: 6 (civil, 2005)length of runways:
- over 3,047 m: 6 (Taiwan Taoyuan, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Chiayi, Pingtung)
- 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 (Magong, Hualien, Songshan, Taitung)
- 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (Hengchun)
- 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (Beigan, Lanyu, Lyudao, Wan'an)
- under 914 m: 1 (Qimei)
Ports and harbors
Taiwan is surrounded by sea on all sides.Major ports: Hualien, Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
, Keelung
Keelung
Keelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...
, Taichung
Taichung
-Demographics:Taichung’s population was an estimated 1,040,725 in August 2006. There are slightly more females in the city than males.24.32% of residents are children, while 16.63% are young people, 52.68% are middle-age, and 6.73% are elderly....
Other ports: Anping
Anping
Anping may refer to:*Anping , a historical Chinese surname*Princess Anping, the name of several princesses in Imperial China-Mainland China:*Anping County, of Hengshui, HebeiTowns----Pillar Industry: Wire Mesh----...
, Su-ao, 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...
Interior ports: Budai
Budăi
Budăi may refer to places in Romania:* Budăi, a village administered by Podu Iloaiei town, Iaşi County* Budăi, hill in the proximity of Călugăreni in Botoşani Countyand to several in Moldova:* Budăi, Taraclia, a commune in Taraclia district...
, Magong
Merchant marine:
235 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,827,173 GRT/ (2003)
ships by type:
- bulk 35
- cargo 64
- container 42
- petroleum tanker 20
- passenger 38
- other 36