Focus Taiwan
Date: 10/13/2020
By: Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Oct. 13 (CNA) A light rail system being planned for Keelung City is to be upgraded to connect the Greater Taipei mass rapid transit network in a major infrastructure development aimed at boosting regional connectivity, officials said Tuesday.

The plan means that a new MRT branch line linking Nangang in Taipei and Badu in Keelung via New Taipei will be able to handle higher passenger volume and will also be able to be controlled automatically, Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said after reaching a consensus with the mayors of the two special municipalities and Keelung City.

The Taipei-Keelung line will be able to accommodate 10,000-15,000 passenger trips per hour instead of the 5,000 as originally planned for the light rail, explained Keelung Mayor Lin Yu-chang (林右昌).

"The upgrading of the Keelung light rail system will be a big step forward for Keelung," Lin went on, adding that it is something that has been called for by local residents for the past 30 years.
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