The China Post
Date: March 4, 2017
By: The China Post news staff
TAIPEI, Taiwan — A new metro connecting Taipei and Taoyuan recorded 52,000 passengers on its first
An Airport MRT train arrives at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on the first day of the line’s commercial run Thursday, March 2, while a couple hug each other at the entrance to a station along the line. The Taoyuan Metro Corp. said that ridership for the first day was about 52,000. (CNA)
day of commercial operations on March 2, down sharply from the numbers seen during trial runs, the Taoyuan Metro Corp. said Friday.
The company said the volume was only about two-thirds from the average during trial runs, but was relatively high compared to the experience of other newly opened rail systems with passenger numbers between trial runs and first-day commercial operations.
The company said the number indicated public confidence in the service and estimated that daily passenger volume on the line — officially called Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT — would be about 45,000 after the half-price discount period ends on April 1.
During the monthlong trial runs starting from Feb. 2 to March 1, the Taoyuan Airport MRT, which serves as both a commuter train and an express connecting Taipei and the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, saw a daily average passenger volume of about 80,000. [FULL STORY]
