The Xinzhuang Line on Taipei’s Metro will begin services Jan. 5, Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-bin and New Taipei City Mayor Eric Li-luan Chu jointly announced Jan. 2.
The 8.2-kilometer line, which extends from Daqiaotou Station in Taipei City to Fu Jen University Station in New Taipei City, will be up and running at 2 p.m., the mayors said.
Starting that day, Taipei Rapid Transit Corp. will offer free rides at seven stations along the new line for a month until Feb. 4. More than 100,000 passengers each day are expected to hop on for a free trip, according to the TRTC.
Meanwhile, four new shuttle bus lines connecting the Xinzhuang Line and other parts of New Taipei will also begin operations Jan. 5, Chu said, adding that the bus services will also be free of charge for one month.
It is estimated that the new metro line will cut the commute time from the Xinzhuang area to downtown Taipei by half, shortening an average trip to 20 to 30 minutes.(HZW)
Write to Kwangyin Liu at kwangyin.liu@mail.gio.gov.tw