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Kaohsiung MRT reverses free train ride plan
Thursday, December 27, 2007
CNA
KAOHSIUNG -- Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. (KRTC) announced a plan yesterday to offer free train rides for all people from Dec. 29 to Jan. 1 on the Red Line's southern section, but made an abrupt about-face two hours later.
KRTC president Fan Chen-po explained that the reversal was due to the fact that KRTC needs to devote most of its manpower to inspections of the construction project and test runs on the partially completed Red Line, one of two planned lines of the Kaohsiung mass rapid transit system.
Officials at the Mass Rapid Transit Bureau under the Kaohsiung city government said they agreed with KRTC's decision because safety inspections and smooth test runs are more important to the Red Line's early opening than free trains rides for the public.
On Dec. 7, Fan and other KRTC executives apologized to Kaohsiung residents for failing to deliver on its promise to inaugurate the Red Line by the end of 2007.
The Red Line has been under construction since October 2001. Fan vowed to complete the construction work as soon as possible, but gave no date for the opening of the line.
The other MRT line, the Orange Line, is scheduled to become operational late next year.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2007/12/27/136591/Kaohsiung%2DMRT.htm
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2007/12/27/136591/Kaohsiung%2DMRT.htm
Kaohsiung mayor touts MRT system's coziness, convenience
Monday, February 11, 2008
CNA
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu took a ride on the Red Line of the city's mass rapid transit (MRT) system yesterday, the third day the system was open for free test rides before its formal inauguration later this year.
Accompanied by several municipal officials during her ride from station R8 in the bustling Sando commercial district to Kaihsuan station R5, Chen lauded the coziness and convenience of the mass rapid transit service.
"Although the train carriages swing mildly, the ride is generally comfortable and convenient," Chen said, expressing her hope that the system will win praise and support from commuters.
She also touted the MRT system's avant-garde design, sleekness, bright ambience and spacious stations, saying it will provide a new mode of transport services for city dwellers.
The mayor also promised to push Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. (KRTC) to speed up preparatory work to get the system ready for formal commercial operations as early as possible.
The Red Line opened for free test rides Friday as part of the city's Lunar New Year celebrations. More than 220,000 residents in the southern port city had ridden on the system over the past three days, KRTC officials said.
The test rides will continue until Monday with an average of 350 trains operated per day, or one train every four minutes, the officials said.
"As city residents have long awaited the opening of the new transport system, the test ride has received enthusiastic response, with every train carriage jammed with passengers anxious to get a taste of the system," said a KRTC official.
The system was originally scheduled for inauguration on Lunar New Year's Day, which fell on Feb. 7 this year. According to city government sources, the exact opening day cannot be set until after the Ministry of Transportation and Communications completes field inspections.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2008/02/11/142482/Kaohsiung%2Dmayor.htm
See also previous post
350,000 riders test Kaohsiung MRT
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
CNA
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- More than 350,000 people took test rides on a section of the Red Line of the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transport system from Feb. 8-11, a Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. official said.
The corporation opened the 8.2 km section Feb. 8, the second day of the Chinese New Year holidays, for free test rides.
The section spans six stations located in the southern area of the 28.3 km Red Line, which includes 23 stations, the official said.
According to an exit poll conducted by the corporation during the test run period, up to 98 percent of the respondents agreed that the rides were both convenient and pleasant.
Ninety percent of the respondents expressed the opinion that the Red Line offers a higher level of comfort and service than that provided by the MRT system in Taipei, northern Taiwan, according to the exit poll.
The Red Line is expected to be formally inaugurated in early March, corporation sources said.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2008/02/13/142646/350000%2Driders.htm
See also previous two posts.
Kaohsiung MRT to be inspected before operating
Thursday, February 21, 2008
CNA
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- The Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit Bureau (KMRTB) filed an application for second phase inspection of the north section of its Red Line, hoping that it can begin service as early as next month.
After the initial inspection was completed Monday, inspectors from Kaohsiung's transit authority gave the bureau the go-ahead to apply for a second inspection, which will be conducted by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC).
The Kaohsiung inspectors said, however, that the bureau must improve the line's facilities for the disabled, security systems and other incomplete sections.
KMRTB planning department section chief Li Yong-kun hopes a second and final inspection will happen soon.
"We hope the second inspection can be done before the end of February, so that the Red Line can begin operating in early March," he said.
The south section of the Red Line already passed two phases of inspection.
The Kaohsiung MRT system is the second one built in Taiwan. Taipei's MRT, in operation since 1996, serves an average of over 1.2 million passengers per day.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2008/02/21/143932/Kaohsiung%2DMRT.htm
Chen to take inaugural Kaohsiung metro ride
Saturday, March 8, 2008
CNA
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- President Chen Shui-bian announced yesterday that he will be on the first Red Line train when the mass rapid transit system line in Taiwan's southern port city of Kaohsiung opens March 9.
He made the announcement while presiding over a ceremony at Formosa Station where the "Dome of Light" by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata was unveiled to mark the opening of the system, and invited the public to join him in witnessing the line's historic opening with him.
Formosa Station -- a juncture of the system's Red and Orange lines -- is located near where the Dec. 10, 1979 anti-government Formosa Incident occurred.
"The Formosa Incident is a common memory and asset of Taiwan's citizens, and younger generations can be reminded of this achievement symbolizing Taiwan's democracy when they see the 'Dome of Light' exhibited at this station," the president said.
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications gave the green light earlier in the day for the Red Line to begin trial operations after certain flaws were improved, but the opening of the Orange Line is not expected until next year.
Chen also praised the strong support for the system from the Kaohsiung City Council and reminded the public of the efforts made by incumbent Mayor Chen Chu and former Mayor Frank Hsieh -- the ruling Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate -- and several acting mayors in completing the task.
Both Chen Chu and Hsieh contributed substantially to the construction of the mass rapid transit system, the president said.
Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. Chairman Lin Wen-yuan announced at the ceremony that the public is welcomed to ride for free on the Red Line from March 9 to April 6.
"The opening of the Red Line has nothing to do with the coming presidential election because it is a promise to Kaohsiung citizens that should be fulfilled as early as possible," Lin stressed.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2008/03/08/146125/Chen%2Dto.htm
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2008/03/08/146125/Chen%2Dto.htm
Monday, March 10, 2008
Kaohsiung inaugurates MRT system
The China Post news staff
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- Premier Chang Chun-hsiung and Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu jointly launched yesterday the 28-kilometer red line of the mass rapid transit system (MRT) in the largest city in southern Taiwan.
The project was completed after six years of construction following a series of alleged scams, including suspected bid rigging, and civil engineering construction accidents.
Premier Chang said, "No pain, no gain" when cutting the ribbon for the inauguration of the modern public transport system.
Mayor Chen thanked one of her predecessors, presidential candidate Frank Hsieh of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), for his bravery and determination to start building the system so that residents can now benefit from the fast and efficient transport service.
Chen said the city government's Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. (KRTC) has promised to complete the orange line in August to provide more convenient service for commuters. There are currently 23 stations along the line stretching from Hsiaokang at the city airport to Chiaotou near Kangshan of Kaohsiung County.
She said the MRT network will be expanded to Luchu and the adjacent Pingtung County.
Residents can take free rides in trial runs until April 6. Those who took the free trial rides were satisfied with the speed of the trains and also admired the various designs of the stations.
But members of the Kaohsiung City Council belonging to the opposition Kuomintang boycotted the opening ceremony, criticizing the mayor and the DPP for rushing to hold the inauguration before the presidential election that will take place in 12 days.
They said at least one of the stations has not yet passed the safety inspection, endangering the safety of passengers.
Officials said there should be no safety problems, as the train will not make stops at that station for the time being.
Construction of the MRT system began with a budget of NT$195.3 billion in late October 2001.
Several massive cave-ins disrupted the construction work. A revolt of several hundred construction workers hired from Thailand protested inhumane treatment by their employers, which also delayed the completion of the MRT system.
Chen was forced to resign from her previous post as chairwoman of the Council of Labor Affairs over the incident.
A former acting Kaohsiung mayor also stepped down as a result.
The service inauguration made Kaohsiung the second major metropolis in Taiwan to provide the MRT service.
Taipei last week celebrated transporting a record three billion people since the opening of its MRT system in 1996.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/kaohsiung/2008/03/10/146357/Kaohsiung%2Dinaugurates.htm
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/kaohsiung/2008/03/10/146357/Kaohsiung%2Dinaugurates.htm
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Kaohsiung Orange Line open in Aug.
CNA
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- The Orange Line of the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit system in Kaohsiung City, southern Taiwan, is scheduled to start operating in August, completing the city's MRT services, Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chu promised yesterday.
The 14.4 km Orange Line has 14 stations and extends east-west across the city. Covering a total route of 42.7 km, the MRT system in southern Taiwan port city comprises of two lines -- the Orange Line and the Red Line, which officially opened Sunday.
Passengers can take free rides on the north-south Red Line until April 6. Those who had already traveled on the MRT were generally satisfied with the comfort and design of the system, and many were impressed by the public art installations at some of the stations.
The works were created by several different artists at the invitation of the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. and include the themes of "Divine Labor Leads Industrialization," the "Floating Forest, " the "Emerald Laminata," the "Dome of Light " and the "Land of Sugar, Home of Butterflies."
Tzeng Gui-hai, a doctor and poet who rode the Red Line Sunday, said the Kaohsiung MRT and its public art are "revolutions in space and time" and can convey Kaohsiung City's aesthetics. He also described the Kaohsiung MRT system as being more beautiful than Tokyo's subway system. Another rider said the MRT is "definitely" more beautiful than metros he has taken in foreign countries, while another passenger noted that the MRT helps lessen the distance between the city's urban and rural areas.
Kaohsiung City is Taiwan's second metropolis to get an MRT after Taipei City. The Kaohsiung MRT was constructed on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract, with total construction expenditure of NT$181.3 billion (US$5.89 billion) . Its construction was approved by the Kaohsiung city council in 1999 and work began in October 2001, involving several scandals and construction accidents.
Premier Chang Chun-hsiung, who also took a free ride Sunday, used the term "no pain, no gain" to describe the efforts made to get the system up and running.
Mayor Chen said the Kaohsiung city government will also promote the construction of a light rail system after the inauguration of the Orange Line, which connects the MRT, railway, and high speed rail systems, and will also work to extend the MRT system to neighboring Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties. She also expressed her gratitude to former Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh,who is now the ruling Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate, for his daring and resolve in bringing the Kaohsiung MRT into realization, and she thanked the teamwork of the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. and the city government's Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit Bureau.
Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. Chairman Lin Wen-yuan, meanwhile, vowed to keep working on providing a more thorough mass transportation system for Kaohsiung.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/kaohsiung/2008/03/11/146561/Kaohsiung%2DOrange.htm
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/kaohsiung/2008/03/10/146357/Kaohsiung%2Dinaugurates.htm
MRT passengers in Kaohsiung have to be taught not to be pesky
The China Post news staff
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- One of the most urgents thing Kaohsiung's newly inaugurated mass rapid transit system has to do is teach passengers not to bother the employees.
The Kaohsiung Metro was opened to service on Sunday. People can take free rides for one full month.
So lots of elderly gentlemen and ladies have tried the novelty over the past three days.
And many of them, who were taking the rides for the first time in their lives, didn't know what to do with so many novel switches aboard MRT trains as well as in MRT stations. One most frequent made mistake was an emergency alarm taken for a flush switch for the toilet.
Station employees had to rush to women's restrooms once every few minutes. Many an old lady pushed the alarm button, thinking she was flushing the toilet bowl.
The alarm bell would ring, prompting other women in the restroom into hysteric outbursts.
Aboard the train, passengers would take an emergency call button for the one to open the doors. Some thought it the button they had to push to signal to stop the train at the next station so they could get off.
Some even took off a lid of the emergency stop switch box and flipped the switch on, just out of curiosity.
Many more passengers chewed betel nut or gum. Others carried food and drinks aboard the trains.
Metro officials are warning passengers against all these pranks.
"We are just warning now," said an MRT spokesman yesterday.
After the one-month free-ride period, the spokesman said, the Metro has to start fining pranksters, even if they are unwittingly making the mistakes.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/kaohsiung/2008/03/12/146688/MRT%2Dpassengers.htm
Saturday, March 15, 2008
1 million passengers ride Kaohsiung's MRT system
CNA
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu announced yesterday that more than 1 million passengers had taken free rides on the city's mass rapid system, and 90 percent of riders were satisfied with their trips.
Since the Kaohsiung MRT's Red Line opened Sunday, nearly 200,000 passengers have taken the system every day, with the total for the week hitting 1 million by Friday morning,which Chen said demonstrated the long-term aspirations for the system among Kaohsiung residents.
Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. is allowing passengers to ride the new north-south Red Line for free during a one-month trial period that ends April 6.
Speaking at a joint meeting with Kaohsiung County Magistrate Yang Chiu-hsing and Pingtung County Magistrate Tsao Chi-hung, Chen said 90 percent of respondents said in a survey conducted by the city government that they were satisfied with the ride, praising its "comfort and convenience."
Covering 42.7 kilometers, the MRT system in the southern Taiwan port city is comprised of two lines -- the east-west Orange Line and the Red Line. The Orange Line is scheduled to start operating in August.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/kaohsiung/2008/03/15/147287/1%2Dmillion.htm
Kaohsiung MRT commuter numbers skyrocket
The China Post news staff
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- Commuter numbers have skyrocketed in the first week since the opening of Kaohsiung's mass rapid transit (MRT) system's red line in Tuhuei District, with some stations reportedly flooded with "a tide of people" during peak time and MRT employees fighting to keep crowds orderly in the heat of the demand.
The MRT company and city government yesterday jointly announced their cooperative "First MRT Competition," selecting six stations to host the performances of bands and singers, which they hope to attract Kaohsiung youths.
The announcement took place ten days since the opening of Kaohsiung's MRT system, with 200,000 commuters using the new services each day.
But the number surges on weekends. Officials estimated that people in the southern harbor city took around 400,000 MRT rides yesterday. No tickets are needed for the time being. Residents in Kaohsiung can take free rides in trial runs until April 6.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/kaohsiung/2008/03/16/147418/Kaohsiung%2DMRT.htm
Kaohsiung Metro subway system begins collecting fares
The China Post news staff
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- Kaohsiung Metro trains were just as crowded yesterday morning as each weekday morning during the month of free rides, which ended Sunday.
More than 8,100 riders paid fares between 6 and 9 a.m., just about the same as in any of the previous four Mondays. But the passengers dwindled after 9 a.m. "We had 10 percent less patronage," a Kaohsiung Metro spokesman said.
The mass rapid transit system in the southern Taiwan port city was opened to traffic on March 7. Passengers were given free rides until April 6. Fare collection began at 6 a.m. yesterday.
Quite a few riders had trouble using the turnstile, however.
They stepped over the orange line to have their card recognized by the sensor. They were barred.
Metro staff had to explain how their customers should correctly pass the turnstile. "Well," one staff member said, "they learned very quickly. They won't have any more trouble in the future."
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/kaohsiung/2008/04/08/150845/Kaohsiung%2DMetro.htm
Friday, April 18, 2008
Kaohsiung inaugurates its new MRT line
CNA
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- A grand inauguration ceremony was held yesterday for the Kaohsiung mass rapid transit (MRT) system's Red Line which has been in commercial operation since April 7, following a one-month test run.
Vice President Annette Lu, who presided over the ceremony, said at the occasion that the Kaohsiung MRT system plays a crucial role in ensuring a promising future for the southern port city. Lu said she is proud of Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chu for eventually putting into operation the Red Line, which initially saw many setbacks.
Chen said the system will bring revolutionary changes to the city, will provide a more convenient form of transportation, boost the real estate market, and contribute to improved air quality as it offers an alternative to cars and buses. Chen expressed the hope that the central government will support an extension of the city's MRT system into the neighboring Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties.
Speaking on the same occasion, Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. Chairman Lin Wen-yuan apologized to the residents living near the line for the inconveniences they had to endure during its construction, and thanked all those who were involved in the construction and made great contributions to the project.
The system's Red Line started operation with a test run March 9 this year. Nearly 8 million passengers were able to ride the trains free of cost during the test period, prior to April 7 when charges went into effect. The 28.3-km Red Line extends north-south and some of its 24 stations feature public installation art designed to present specific aspects of the city's culture and history.
Chairman Lin also announced at the ceremony that the other main line -- the Orange Line -- is slated to begin operation in August this year. Construction of the 14.4-km Orange Line, which runs east to west and has 14 stations, will be completed ahead of schedule in August instead of October, Lin said. Kaohsiung City is the second metropolis in Taiwan to build an MRT system after Taipei City.
The KRTC is being constructed under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract signed with the Kaohsiung City government, at a total cost of NT$181.3 billion (US$5.89 billion). The project was approved by the Kaohsiung city council in 1999, but was rocked by number of construction accidents and corruption scandals after work began in October 2001.
A number of minor lines are also planned -- blue, brown, yellow, green -- as well as a light rail, with the completion of the entire MRT network scheduled for 2021.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/kaohsiung/2008/04/18/152452/Kaohsiung%2Dinaugurates.htm
KMRT Orange Line retail space bidding starts today
CNA
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- The Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. (KRTC) is set to begin inviting bids by retailers Tuesday to lease space at stations along the MRT's Orange Line, which is scheduled to begin operations in August.
At the Formosa Boulevard Station, which connects the Orange Line to the north-south Red Line, a total of 89 retail outlet spaces will be available for lease, with 73 exceeding 10 pings (33 square meters) in area, the KRTC said.
The largest retail outlet space available at the station is 29 pings, while the smallest is about 2 pings.
The 14.3-kilometer Orange Line extends east-west across K aohsiung City and into Kaohsiung County, beginning from Sizihwan Station in Gushan district in the southern port city and ending at Daliao Station in Kaohsiung County. There are 14 stations along the line -- 13 underground and one at ground level.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/kaohsiung/2008/06/17/161330/KMRT%2DOrange.htm
Five shuttles planned for Kaohsiung MRT's orange line
CNA
Sunday, August 17, 2008
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- The Kaohsiung city government's Transportation Bureau said yesterday that five shuttle bus lines are planned to serve passengers using the orange line of the Mass Rapid Transit system that is set to open before the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Sept. 14 this year.
Buses on the five lines will be operated by the city government's Kaohsiung City Bus Service Administration, unlike shuttle bus services on the red line, which are operated by private bus companies, the bureau said.
Chang Shu-chuan, a section head at the Transportation Bureau, said that the bureau invited bids in March and May of this year for private bus companies to operate the orange line shuttle bus services, but no companies responded.
The city government's offer of NT$700,000 (US$22,330) per bus in subsidies as well as fuel subsidies of NT$40 per kilometer for the first one or two years of operations failed to attract any bidders.
The bureau therefore commissioned the Kaohsiung City Bus Service Administration to run the orange line shuttle bus services, according to Chang.
Noting that bureau surveys show that 82 percent of Kaohsiung residents support the shuttle bus services offered for the red line, Chang said that the bureau decided to provide the same services on the orange line.
Although there are 20 shuttle bus lines serving the red line at present, only five are currently planned for the orange line.
Chang said that this is due to the fact that the orange line is only half the length of the red line and has only eight stations within Kaohsiung City.
Shuttle buses on the five lines feeding the orange line will run every 15 minutes during rush hour and every 20 minutes during off-peak hours, she noted.
As for concerns that having the Kaohsiung City Bus Service Administration provide the shuttle bus service might draw buses away from the city's regular bus routes and reduce the quality of service, Chang said the Transportation Bureau has mapped out thorough plans and that the quality of service on regular public bus lines will be maintained.
She added that the administration will be able to receive fuel subsidies of NT$40 per kilometer from the municipal government's air pollution fund for providing the shuttle bus service.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/kaohsiung/2008/08/17/170493/Five-shuttles.htm
Kaohsiung plan for MRT extension nearing end
CNA
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- The Kaohsiung municipal government's Mass Rapid Transit Bureau said Tuesday that a revised plan for an extension of the southern port city's MRT lines is nearing completion and will be submitted to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) next month for approval.
If approved, the Kaohsiung MRT's Red Line and Orange Line will be extended by a total of 23.4 kilometers, according to the bureau.
Noting that the Red Line has already been in service for five months and that the Orange Line is set to be launched next month, Lee Yeong-kuen, a division chief at the bureau, said that as soon as both lines are up and running, the Kaohsiung municipal government will help the Pingtung County and Kaohsiung County government's push for the planned extension to create a comprehensive mass transit system linking these southern Taiwan regions.
The Red Line currently runs from Siagang Station in Kaohsiung City northward to Gangshan Station in Kaohsiung County, covering 28.3 kilometers, while the Orange Line will run 14.4 kilometers from Sizihwan Station in the city to Daliao Station in the county.
Lee said that because of calls by the Pingtung and Kaohsiung county governments, the Kaohsiung municipal government drew up extension plans in 2006 and sent them to the MOTC several times since then for approval.
Each time, the MOTC called for revisions to the plan to address its concerns that the extension might not be worth the investment as it would follow almost the same path as the national railway which links Pingtung and Kaohsiung, and would lead to a reduction in passengers numbers.
The bureau has therefore made revisions, with the new plan calling for an extension of the Red Line northward by 9.4 kilometers to the Luchu Science Park in Kaohsiung County, and an extension of the Orange Line southward by 14.4 kilometers to the Pingtung sugar factory in the Pingtung City.
Lee said that that the extensions would definitely lead to a significant increase in MRT passenger numbers, adding that the only question now is whether the benefits of the extensions will outweigh the massive investment needed to make the plan a reality.
The extension of the Red Line is expected to cost about NT$16.2 billion (US$516.6 million), while the Orange Line extension has an estimated price tag of NT$31.8 billion, according to Lee.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/kaohsiung/2008/08/20/170887/Kaohsiung-plan.htm
jpatokal
12-09-08, 11:47 AM
The Orange Line seems to be almost there. China Post (http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/kaohsiung/2008/09/11/174131/Kaohsiung-MRT.htm):
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. (KRTC) moved one step closer yesterday to meeting its targeted Sept. 14 launch date for service on the southern port city MRT system's Orange Line. ...
He added that the KRTC has not given up on meeting its target launch date for service on the Orange Line on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival but admitted that all-out efforts will have to be made if the goal is to be achieved.
If the KRTC can receive certification from the MOTC by Sept. 12, it will be able to begin service Sept. 14 as promised, Huang said.
jpatokal
15-09-08, 11:39 AM
The 14.7 km Orange Line of the Kaohsiung MRT opened to the public at 1 PM on Sunday, Sept. 14th:
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/080915/4/3p1fw.html
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/09/15/2003423234
52,000 sightseers in the first two hours alone. The "official" inauguration is on Sept. 21st, but the system will stay open and free until then.
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