Xinbeitou branch line

Xinbeitou branch line
Xinbeitou Branch Line
新北投支線
3-car C371 trains, which has operated on the line since 2007.
Overview
Type Rapid transit
Locale Taipei, Republic of China
Termini Beitou
Xinbeitou
Stations 2
Operation
Opened 28 March 1997
Operator(s) Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation
Character Elevated
Depot(s) Beitou
Rolling stock Kawasaki C371
3 cars per set, 1 set per train
Technical
Line length 1.2 km (0.7 mi)
Number 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
Route map
Xinbeitou branch line
Traditional Chinese 新北投支線
Simplified Chinese 新北投支线

The Taipei Metro Xinbeitou Branch Line is an elevated, high-capacity branch line of the Tamsui Line. It first opened for service on 28 March 1997. The line is 1.2 km (0.75 mi)-long and consists of two stations.

History

The origins for the line can be traced as far back as 1916, where its predecessor line of a similar route was built and operated by the Taiwan Railway Administration (also called the Xinbeitou Line). It was last operated on 15 July 1988 by diesel units before ceasing service for construction of the metro line. On 28 March 1997, the line re-opened for service as part of the Taipei Metro.

Line Operations

The operation of the line has been problematic since its opening. Complaints of noise pollution by residents along the line have led to severe restrictions.[1][2] Barely six months after the line's opening, train frequency had to be reduced. On 1 November 1998, the number of cars operating on the line was reduced from six to three. Up until 2007, the operating hours were limited to between 7 am and 9 pm only.[1][2] Trains currently still operate with a speed limit of 25 km/h (16 mph) due to flange on the line's sharp curves.

TRTS completed the installation of the sound-proofing barrier along the line by 2006, and on 14 September 2007 extended its operating hours to between 6 am and midnight.[1] It was hoped that if the noise standards were deemed to be at an acceptable level that the current Orange Line trains on the Tamsui Line could operate on the Xinbeitou Line instead.[3] Trains operate at a maximum headway of one per 7–8 minutes during peak hours.[4]

It has been reported that the line is operating at a loss.[5] A proposal was put forth in 2005 that a maglev train operation would solve the problem of noise pollution,[6] but its feasibility on operating costs became a subject of ridicule.

Rolling stock

3-car C301 trains, which operated on the line up until 2007.

A modified C301 (trainset 013/014) originally operated on the line in a 3-car formation, making it unique on the system. From 2007 onwards, the train was replaced by a purpose-built C371 of a similar length.

Stations

CodeStation NameTransferLocation Distance (km)
EnglishChinese
R22AXinbeitou新北投 BeitouTaipei 1.2
R22Beitou北投 0.0

References

  1. 1 2 3 Starting September 14, the Xinbeitou Branch Line Will Resume Normal Operational Mode with 3-Carriage Train Archived October 18, 2007, at the Wayback Machine., Taipei Metro, 12 September 2007
  2. 1 2 新北投支線將恢復6～零時營運, The Liberty Times, 12 September 2007
  3. ↑ 新北投支線 八月增班正常營運, The Liberty Times, 14 July 2007
  4. ↑ "Xinbeitou Branch Line". Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  5. ↑ 捷运新北投支线　不惜赔钱服务市民, 中广新闻, 13 July 2007
  6. ↑ 台北拟引进日本磁浮电车 最快2007年可亮相, China News Service, 21 July 2005
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