An Overview of the Neihu Rapid Transit System: Taipei, Taiwan

This paper introduces the Neihu rapid transit system, which was contracted to Bombardier in June 2003. The Neihu Line, in the City of Taipei, Taiwan, is an extension of the existing Muzha Line. The Neihu line rapid transit system includes the following system-wide elements: (1) 202 new rubber-tired vehicles, to be configured in married pairs and operated as 4-vehicle trainsets; (2) for both the Neihu and Muzha lines—a communications-based automatic train control (ATC) system, the Bombardier* CITYFLO* 650 ATC technology (formerly known as Flexiblok* ATC); (3) power supply and distribution system; (4) platform screen doors; (5) communication system; (6) Neihu depot workshop equipment; (7) a new main control center at the Neihu depot and a new redundant control center at the Muzha depot; and (8) the retrofit of the existing 102 Muzha line vehicles. A key feature of the seamless integration with the existing Muzha line will be the deployment of the CITYFLO ATC technology. Proven in other urban and airport applications, the CITYFLO ATC will be overlaid onto the existing system with minimal service disruption. Upon completion of Phase 2, both the existing Muzha lineand new Neihu line will be integrated and will operate as one continuous line with the same automatic train control system. The new Neihu line will incorporate 12 stations along 14.8 kilometers of mostly elevated dual-lane guideway and is designed for a peak capacity of 28,400 passengers per hour per direction.