Luzhou Line (Taipei Metro)

Luzhou Line
Luzhou Line
蘆洲線

Luzhou Station Platform
Overview
Type Rapid transit
Locale Taipei and New Taipei, Taiwan
Termini Luzhou
Daqiaotou
Stations 5
Operation
Opened November 3, 2010
Operator(s) Taipei Rapid Transit System
Character Underground
Depot(s) Luzhou Depot
Rolling stock Kawasaki C371
3 cars per set, 2 sets per train
Technical
Line length 6.4 km (4.0 mi)
No. of tracks 2
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification Third rail (750 volts DC)
Operating speed 80 km/h
Luzhou Line
Traditional Chinese 蘆洲線
Simplified Chinese 芦洲线

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 (4.0 mi) long with 5 underground stations and a maintenance depot.[1]

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.[2] 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 doors 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.[3] The line began revenue service from December 3, 2010.[4]

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.[5] It is expected to cut travel time between Luzhou and Taipei by at least half,[6] with travel time between Luzhou and Taipei Main Station cut down to 17 minutes.[7] 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.[8] The line has been effective in relieving congestion, with a 24% increase in average vehicle speed crossing Taipei Bridge (to Taipei) during rush hour since the opening of the line.[9] 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.[10]

In anticipation of the opening of the new line, property prices along the route have risen by 36% since 2008.[11] 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.[12]

Construction

Sanmin Senior High School Station Exit 2

The cut-and-cover method was used in the construction of stations and turnout sections, while the shield tunneling method was used in other sections.[7]

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.[7] Floodgates have been installed where the line emerges from underneath the Tamsui River to prevent flooding from spreading to nearby stations.[13]

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.

Stations

CodeStation NameTransferLocation
EnglishChinese
O43Luzhou蘆洲 LuzhouNew Taipei
O44Sanmin Senior High School
(National Open University)		三民高中
(空中大學)
O45St. Ignatius High School徐匯中學 Circular Line (TBD)
O46Sanhe Junior High School三和國中 Sanchong
O47Sanchong Elementary School三重國小
O8Daqiaotou
(Daqiao Elementary School)		大橋頭
(大橋國小)		 DatongTaipei
→ Continues through Xinzhuang Line than Zhonghe Line

Station Design

The stations along the Luzhou Line were designed along the common theme of egrets.[7] To highlight each station's characteristics, a series of subthemes were created: "Wind" at Luzhou Station, "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.

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.[18] 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 (3,000 ft).[19]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Luzhou Line.

References

  1. ↑ "Taipei Metro Network: Orange Line". Department of Rapid Transit Systems. 2010-11-11. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  2. ↑ "Introduction to the MRT Luzhou Line". Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation. 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  3. 1 2 3 "MRT Luzhou line to open Nov. 3". Taipei Times. 2010-10-28. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  4. 1 2 "MRT Luzhou Line free trial month comes to an end". Taipei Times. 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
  5. ↑ "蘆洲線試乘 已逾305萬人次". UDN. 2010-11-25. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
  6. ↑ "President offers congratulations on opening of MRT Luzhou Line". Focus Taiwan News Channel. 2010-11-03. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "捷運系統蘆洲線簡介" (PDF). Department of Rapid Transit Systems, Taipei City Government. 2007-12-01. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
  8. ↑ "Record breaking year for Taipei's MRT network". The China Post. 2010-12-30. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  9. ↑ 張家嘯 (2010-11-26). "蘆洲線試乘破305萬　橘色路線圖沒標錯". CardU 焦點新聞. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
  10. ↑ "蘆洲線捷運搶客 公車載量掉四成". The Liberty Times. 2010-12-08. Retrieved 2010-12-08.
  11. ↑ "Luzhou Line property value rises through the roof". The China Post. 2010-09-03. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
  12. ↑ "Luzhou Line boom may be short-lived: vendors". Taipei Times. 2010-11-27. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
  13. ↑ "蘆洲站出土段防洪閘門". Department of Rapid Transit Systems. 2009-08-01. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
  14. ↑ "捷運蘆洲支線 延明年9月通車－聯合新聞網". Retrieved 8 February 2009.
  15. 1 2 "北捷蘆洲支線9月通車 新莊線試駛頭前庄站(2010.03.02)". Retrieved 3月2日. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  16. ↑ "捷運蘆洲支線9月3和4日初勘 台北市政府捷運工程局". Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  17. ↑ "Taipei MRT's Luzhou Line to start operations Wednesday afternoon". Focus Taiwan News Channel. 2010-11-02. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  18. ↑ "Demolition Operations at Luzhou Depot Site". Department of Rapid Transit Systems. 2010-12-08.
  19. ↑ "Wind Rising and Reed Waving in the Green Park—Luzhou Line Linear Park". Department of Rapid Transit Systems. 2009-12-01. Retrieved 2010-12-08.
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