The Danhai light rail (traditional Chinese: 淡海輕軌; simplified Chinese: 淡海轻轨; pinyin: Dànhǎi Qīngguǐ, also known as Tamhai light rail) is a light rail transit (LRT) line in Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Taiwan. It opened on 23 December 2018 and began service the following day.[3][6][7]

Danhai LRT
Overview
Other name(s)Danhai Light Rail
Native name淡海輕軌
LocaleNew Taipei City, Taiwan
Termini
Stations14
Color on mapVermilion
Service
Operator(s)New Taipei Metro Co.
Depot(s)Danhai Depot
Rolling stockDanhai LRV[1][2]
History
Opened
  • 23 December 2018 (2018-12-23)[3]
  • 21 November 2020 (2020-11-21) (Blue Coast Line)[4]
  • 2024 (Extension to Tamsui)
Technical
Line length7.3 km (4.5 mi)
CharacterGround level, elevated
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC overhead line
Operating speed70 km/h (43 mph) (with electric cable), 50 km/h (31 mph) (without electric cable)[5]
Route map

Hongshulin
V01
R27
Ganzhenlin
V02
V21
Tamsui
Danjin Denggong
V03
V22
Mackay Street
Tamkang University
V04
V23
Fort Santo Domingo
Danjin Beixin
V05
V24
Hobe Fort
Xinshi 1st Rd
V06
V25
Youchekou
Tamsui District Office
V07
Bali light rail
(under construction)
V26
Tamsui
Fisherman's Wharf
Binhai Yishan
V08
V27
Shalun
Binhai Shalun
V09
Linzi River
V28
Taipei University of
Marine Technology
Danhai New Town
V10
Kanding
V11
Danhai depot
Sanzhi light rail
(under construction)

History

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The system is built to provide public transportation to Danhai New Town, whose population is expected to reach 340,000 by 2041.[8]

The initial feasibility study for a heavy-capacity extension line of the Taipei Metro was completed in 1992. Further planning reports were completed in 1998 and 1999. At that time the project was put on hold due to budgetary considerations. In 2005, planning shifted from a metro system to a light rail system. A light rail feasibility study was completed in 2007, with a review of funding and operation throughout 2008. The study was completed and presented for approval to the Executive Yuan in 2010.[9]

The light rail two-stage construction plan by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications was approved by Council for Economic Planning and Development on 7 January 2013.[10] The first phase of the construction began in September 2014.[11]

The system is projected to carry 120,000 passengers per day.[12]

Route

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Route Map

The system currently consists of 14 stations, with 6 additional stations planned.[13]. Tracks are at ground level and elevated. The total length will be 13.99 kilometres (8.69 mi).[8]

The Hongshulin–Kanding section opened in December 2018.[3] Trains run from Hongshulin Station northward and turn west along Zhongzheng East Road, Highway No. 2, Binhai Road and Shalun Road.[13][14] Seven of its eleven stations are elevated, with the remaining four at ground level.[15] The bike sharing service YouBike is available at seven stations.[16][17]

A two-kilometre (1.2 mi) branch with three stations opened in November 2020.[18] The branch runs from Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf, turns eastward to join the Kanding branch,[13] with which it shares 1.21 kilometres (0.75 mi) and three stops.[14] The line follows Highway No. 2B, Binhai Road, and Shalun Road.[11] All nine stations will be at ground level.[15]

Stations

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In operation

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  • Operation Services
    • G1 - Bound for Kanding
    • G2 - Bound for Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf
Services Code Station name Transfer
G1 G2 English Chinese
V01 Hongshulin 紅樹林  
V02 Ganzhenlin 竿蓁林
V03 Danjin Denggong 淡金鄧公
V04 Tamkang University 淡江大學
V05 Danjin Beixin 淡金北新
V06 Xinshi 1st Rd 新市一路
V07 Tamsui District Office 淡水行政中心
V08 Binhai Yishan 濱海義山
V09 Binhai Shalun 濱海沙崙
V10 Danhai New Town 淡海新市鎮
V11 Kanding 崁頂
V28 Taipei University of Marine Technology 台北海洋大學
V27 Shalun 沙崙
V26 Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf 淡水漁人碼頭

Planned

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Mackay Street was originally planned as two one-way stations, but now that plan has changed due to the strong opposition of the residents in Tamsui Old Street.

Code Station name Transfer
English Chinese
V21 Tamsui 淡水  
V22 Mackay Street 馬偕街
V23 Fort Santo Domingo 紅毛城
V24 Hobe Fort 滬尾砲台
V25 Youchekou 油車口

Network map

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Rolling stock

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The cars were built in Taiwan by the Taiwan Rolling Stock Company[14] under the first program to domestically build light rail vehicles. The company partnered with the German firm Voith Engineering Services on the design of the cars. Final assembly and the manufacturing of many components were done in Taiwan. Through this project, Taiwan seeks to lessen its dependence on foreign manufacturers for rail systems.[19]

Each of the 15 bi-directional standard gauge trams is 34.5 metres (113 ft) long and can carry up to 265 passengers. They are designed with electrical onboard storage capacity so that they can travel short distances under their power; this feature allows simplification of the overhead power cabling by eliminating the need to run the power cables across major intersections.[20] The prototype was scheduled to be ready in 2016,[8] with all 15 cars to be delivered by the end of 2017.[21][22]

Budget

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The light rail was expected to cost NT$15.31 billion, in which NT$1.67 billion will be provided by the central government, NT$7.09 billion by Construction and Planning Agency and NT$6.55 billion by New Taipei City Government when it was approved in 2013.[13] The current estimate is NT$31.357 billion.[8]

Construction

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The project is divided into two phases. The first phase is the 11-station Green Mountain Line and part of the Blue Coast Line comprising three stations, totaling 9.7 kilometres (6.0 mi) and the depot. The whole first phase costs NT$12.8 billion. Work began in September 2014 and as of May 2016 is approximately one-third complete. With the opening of the Green Mountain Line, the first phase of the Danhai light rail is almost completed. The other three stations along the Blue Coast Line will be completed later.[14]

The second phase completes the remaining 4.4 kilometres (2.7 mi) and six more stations of the Blue Coast Line.[13] Its planned completion is in 2024.[8]

The line is being developed by China Steel Corporation and subsidiaries United Steel Engineering & Construction Corporation and Taiwan Rolling Stock Company.[8] Other contractors are Thales Rail Signalling Solutions for signalling, communications, and control equipment[23], CTCI Corporation for track work, Pandrol for track, maintenance, and safety equipment, TÜV Rheinland for testing, and ABB for electrical equipment.[8]

Extension

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The Danjiang Bridge over the mouth of the Tamsui River on the Taiwan strait is under construction to accommodate an extension of the Danhai LRT over the river to connect the town of Bali.[24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "列車介紹 - 淡海輕軌列車". New Taipei Metro. New Taipei Metro Corporation. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Danhai LRV". Taiwan Rolling Stock Co. Ltd. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "First section of Danhai Light Rail System opens". Taipei Times. The Liberty Times Group. 24 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Expansion of Metro New Taipei – Danhai Light Rail". 30 November 2020.
  5. ^ "列車介紹 - 淡海輕軌列車". New Taipei Metro. New Taipei Metro Corporation. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  6. ^ "First line of Danhai light rail system to begin service". Focus Taiwan. Central News Agency (CNA). 23 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  7. ^ Liao, George (23 December 2018). "New Taipei's Danhai Light Rail free of charge for one month". Taiwan News. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "Danhai Light Rail Transit (LRT), Taipei, Taiwan". railway-technology.com. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  9. ^ "The Danshui LRT Plan". HSR.GOV.TW. Bureau of High Speed Rail. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  10. ^ Kao, Camaron (8 January 2013). "Plan to construct Tamsui light-rail system approved". Taipei Times.
  11. ^ a b "Initial construction of Tamsui light rail 30.95% completed". Taipei Times. 15 May 2013.
  12. ^ Barrow, Keith (8 January 2016). "Go-ahead for Taiwanese light rail project". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  13. ^ a b c d e "Tamsui light rail approved". Railway Gazette. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  14. ^ a b c d "Current phase of Danhai light rail system over 30% completed". Focus Taiwan News Channel. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  15. ^ a b "New Taipei City Department of Rapid Transit System Danhai Light Rail Transit Plan". ufoc.com.tw. UFOC News. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  16. ^ Liao, George (20 December 2018). "9 YouBike stations to be in operation along new Danhai Light Rail line in New Taipei". Taiwan News. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  17. ^ Everington, Keoni (21 December 2018). "Taiwan's Tamsui light rail line to open to public on Christmas Eve". Taiwan News. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  18. ^ "New Danhai Light Rail section launches today". Taipei Times. The Liberty Times Group. 15 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  19. ^ "Danhai light rail project aims to upgrade local rail sector". The China Post. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  20. ^ "Taipei tram unveiled". Metro Report International. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  21. ^ "Danhai light rail project to upgrade local rail sector". apt-newschannel.com. 20 July 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  22. ^ "First locally built tram car to be delivered Nov. 11". Focus Taiwan News Channel. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  23. ^ "Thales to support Taiwan's Danhai Light Rail Transit project". railway-technology.com. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  24. ^ "Danjiang Bridge". Architect. The Journal of the American Institute of Architects. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
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