TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) and New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) hosted an unveiling ceremony for the first train of the MRT Wanda-Zhonghe Line on Monday (Nov. 11).
The ceremony took place at the Jincheng Depot in New Taipei City’s Tucheng District. A representative from the French manufacturer Alstom presented the two mayors with a model version of the train, per CNA.
During an open media session following the unveiling, Chiang said the new MRT line is expected to be completed by 2027. He noted that the line will connect communities across Wanhua, Zhonghe, and Tucheng, fostering business and industrial development along its route.
Chiang added that the arrival of the first train required an 18,000-kilometer journey, beginning at a factory in Brazil, crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and transiting through Singapore. He said the train’s arrival marks the completion of the first phase of development for the line.
Hou noted that once the MRT line is completed, the travel time from Zhonghe Senior High School Station to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station will be reduced to just 14 minutes, cutting the previous travel time in half.
He added that the trains will operate at high speeds and provide commuters with a comfortable ride.
The Taipei City Department of Rapid Transit Systems (DORTS) stated that the line will feature a fully automated, driverless medium-capacity system, manufactured and assembled by Alstom.
Trains will operate on steel wheels and rails, with four-carriage groups. Each carriage has 26 seats, and each train will accommodate up to 700 passengers.
