Airport MRT line ‘stable, comfortable’: Taoyuan mayor

Taipei--The Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT line, which began trial runs with passengers on Thursday, seems "stable and comfortable," Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan (???) said, after two trips on the train.

Cheng took the first train from the airport to Taipei in the morning then made the return trip in the afternoon, along with Legislative Speaker Su Jia-chyuan (???) and some Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers.

While some passengers on the trial runs complained about the train stopping abruptly on winding sections of the line, Cheng said the ride was "stable and comfortable" compared with other MRT lines and that the complaints had been few.

He said the ride was smooth even when the train was traveling up and down hills and running at 60 kilometers per hour.

However, when the train is traveling over the Linkou plateau, one can expect to feel pressure in the ears, which is normal at that elevation, Cheng said.

The line began a one-month trial run Thursday, carrying passengers free of cost.

It is scheduled to be opened officially on March 2, after which a 50 percent discount will be offered for a month. Full fares will start on April 2, ranging from NT$30 (US$0.96) to NT$160.

Cheng has forecast that ridership on the line will reach 70,000 per day after its formal opening.

The ticketing system on the line has 10 language options and accepts eight different types of payment cards, including Taipei City's EasyCard. The trains are equipped with charging stations for electronic devices and free Wi-Fi.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel