Airport MRT carries 52,000 passengers on first day of operation

Taipei--The mass rapid transit (MRT) line connecting Taipei and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport transported about 52,000 passengers the previous day, its first day of commercial operation, Taoyuan Metro Corp. announced on Friday.

The company said the number indicates public confidence in the service and estimates that daily passenger volume will be about 45,000 after the half-price discount period ends on April 1.

However, that still represents a significant drop from the 80,000 passengers recorded daily from Feb. 2 to March 2, during the free trial run period for the Airport MRT.

Providing a breakdown of passenger traffic, the company pointed out that Airport Terminal 1 and Airport Terminal 2 stations received a combined passenger volume of 10,000, with Taipei Main Station recording 15,000 passengers.

The figures show that the new line operates effectively for its main target market -- air travelers -- according to the company.

National Taiwan Sport University, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Linkou stations also posted combined passenger traffic of nearly 10,000, an indication that the line provides an alternative form of public transport for commuters, it said.

The 51.03-kilometer line, which serves more than 20 stations, runs through Taipei, New Taipei and Taoyuan in northern Taiwan.

The plan to build an airport MRT was proposed about 20 years ago and construction of the line began in 2006.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel