Circular line (New Taipei Metro)

The Circular or Yellow line (code Y) (Chinese: 環狀線) is a metro line in New Taipei City, part of the New Taipei Metro. Currently the line runs between Dapinglin and New Taipei Industrial Park, it is approximately 15.4 km (9.6 mi) long with 14 stations.^[5] This initial section was opened on 31 January 2020.^[3] Hitachi Rail Italy supplied 17 sets of 4-car driverless medium-capacity trains for the line.^[6][1] Extensions to the north and south are currently under construction.

Circular line
A Circular line train (Driverless Metro) at Dapinglin
Overview
Locale	Taipei and New Taipei, Taiwan
Termini	Dapinglin New Taipei Industrial Park
Stations	14 (Western Section)
Color on map	Yellow
Service
Type	Rapid transit
Operator(s)	New Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation
Depot(s)	North South
Rolling stock	Phase 1: Hitachi Rail Italy Driverless Metro[1] Phase 2: Alstom Metropolis (type TBA (built in Taubaté))[2]
History
Opened	31 January 2020 (2020-01-31)[3]
Technical
Line length	15.4 km (9.6 mi)[4]
Number of tracks	2
Character	Elevated and underground
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC third rail
Operating speed	80 km/h (50 mph)
Route map Y01 Taipei Zoo ( ) Y02 National Chengchi University Y03 Wenshan District Office Y04 Mamingtan Y05 Gouzikou Y06 Baodoucuo (  ) Y07 Dapinglin Y08 Shisizhang ( Ankeng LRT ) Y09 Xiulang Bridge Y10 Jingping Y11 Jingan (  ) Y12 Zhonghe ( future  ) Y13 Qiaohe Y14 Zhongyuan Y15 Banxin Y16 Banqiao (  ) (  ) (  West Coast line ) Y17 Xinpu Minsheng Tamsui River Y18 Touqianzhuang (  ) Y19 Xingfu Y20 New Taipei Industrial Park (   ) Y21 New Taipei City Exhibition Hall Y22 Gengliao Y23 Zhonglu Y24 St Ignatius High School (  ) Y25 Fenziwei Y26 Chongyang Bridge Tamsui River Y27 Shezi Keelung River Y28 Fudeyang Y29 Shilin (  ) Y30 Linzikou Y31 National Palace Museum Y32 Jiannan Road (  ) Y33 Xiatayou Y34 Zhouzi Y35 Neihu Technology Park Y36 Ruiguang Park Y37 Fenliao Y38 Jiulizu Y39 Songshan ( ) (  West Coast line ) (  ) (  ) Y40 Yongchun (  ) Y41 Xiangshan Y42 Sanzhangli This diagram: view talk edit Note: Names in italics are only possible names and may change.

Circular line
Traditional Chinese	環狀線
Simplified Chinese	环状线
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Huánzhuàng Xiàn Wade–Giles Huan2-chuang4 Hsien4 Tongyong Pinyin Huánjhuàng-Siàn Southern Min Hokkien POJ Khoân-chōng Sòaⁿ
Yellow line
Traditional Chinese	黃線
Simplified Chinese	黄线
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Huáng Xiàn Wade–Giles Huang Hsien4 Tongyong Pinyin Huáng-Siàn Southern Min Hokkien POJ N̂g Sòaⁿ

Construction

Hitachi Rail STS supplied electromechanical equipment for the line, including driverless technology and CBTC signaling.^[6][1] Dapinglin, currently the only underground station on the line, was constructed by RSEA Engineering Corporation and employed the cut-and-cover method.^[7]

Construction for the first phase officially broke ground on 11 July 2011 on a 6.3 km (3.9 mi) elevated section between Zhonghe and Banqiao.^[8] The section is estimated to cost NT$13.7 billion, with the entire first-stage 15.4 km (9.6 mi) route estimated to cost NT$54.7 billion to construct.

The line includes the first elevated split platforms in the system at Zhonghe, Qiaohe, and Zhongyuan due to the narrowness of the available station area.^[9][10]

The initial section between Dapinglin and New Taipei Industrial Park opened on 31 January 2020.^[3] On 5 May 2023, the Circular line has been transferred from the Taipei Metro to the New Taipei Metro.^[11]

Public art

Unlike previous public art installations on the metro, it was decided that a smaller number of art pieces would be installed within the same budget, allowing for large-scale artwork.^[12]

Across the above ground section of the line, Emmanuelle Moureaux (a Tokyo based French architect and designer) spread distinctive bold colours across infrastructure – including steel beams and pillars, noise barriers, 13 stations and platforms, a bridge over the Tamsui River, and the exterior and interior design of the train.^[12][13]

The platforms, walls and ceilings of Banqiao station are decorated by French artist Daniel Buren, using regular, contrasting coloured stripes.^[12][14]

Stations in operation

The western section of the line officially opened on 31 January 2020.^[3][15]

Code	Station Name		Transfer	District	City
	English	Chinese
Y07	Dapinglin	大坪林		Xindian	New Taipei
Y08	Shisizhang	十四張
Y09	Xiulang Bridge	秀朗橋		Zhonghe
Y10	Jingping	景平
Y11	Jingan	景安
Y12	Zhonghe	中和	(constructing)
Y13	Qiaohe (suspended)	橋和
Y14	Zhongyuan (suspended)	中原
Y15	Banxin (suspended)	板新		Banqiao
Y16	Banqiao	板橋	(out of station)
Y17	Xinpu Minsheng	新埔民生	(out of station)(Xinpu)[16]
Y18	Touqianzhuang	頭前庄		Xinzhuang
Y19	Xingfu	幸福
Y20	New Taipei Industrial Park	新北產業園區

After 3 April 2024, services between Zhonghe and Banqiao were temporarily suspended due to the 2024 Hualien earthquake.^[17] The repair work will take 1 year to complete. ^[18]

Stations under construction

The north and south sections are approved for construction. ^{[lower-alpha 1]} Currently under construction, with estimated completion in 2029.

South section

Stations Y01–06 are approved for construction. (Unopened stations' names are to be confirmed)

Code	Station Name		Transfer	District	City
	English	Chinese
Y01	Taipei Zoo	臺北動物園		Wenshan	Taipei
Y02	National Chengchi University	政大
Y03	Wenshan District Office	文山區公所
Y04	Mamingtan	馬明潭
Y05	Gouzikou	溝子口
Y06	Baodoucuo	寶斗厝	To be connected to Dapinglin	Xindian	New Taipei

North section

Stations Y21–32 are approved for construction. (Unopened stations' names are to be confirmed)

Code	Station Name		Transfer	District	City
	English	Chinese
Y21	New Taipei City Exhibition Hall	工商展覽中心	To be connected to New Taipei Industrial Park	Wugu	New Taipei
Y22	Gengliao	更寮
Y23	Zhonglu	中路		Luzhou
Y24	St Ignatius High School	徐匯中學
Y25	Fenziwei	分子尾
Y26	Chongyang Bridge	重陽橋		Sanchong
Y27	Shezi	社子		Shilin	Taipei
Y28	Fudeyang	福德洋
Y29	Shilin	士林
Y30	Linzikou	林子口
Y31	National Palace Museum	故宮
Y32	Jiannan Road	劍南路		Zhongshan

Planned stations

The east section is still under planning and subject to change.^{[lower-alpha 1]} After this section is complete, the Circular line will go in a circle.

East section

(Unopened stations' names are to be confirmed)

Code	Station Name		Transfer	Districts	City
	English	Chinese
Y33	Xiatayou	下塔悠	To be connected to Jiannan Road	Zhongshan	Taipei
Y34	Zhouzi	洲子		Neihu
Y35	Neihu Technology Park	內湖科技園區
Y36	Ruiguang Park	瑞光公園
Y37	Fenliao	粉寮
Y38	Jiulizhu	舊里族	(planned)
Y39	Songshan	松山	(out-of-station)	Songshan
Y40	Yongchun	永春	(out-of-station)	Xinyi
Y41	Xiangshan	象山	(out-of-station)
Y42	Sanzhangli	三張犁	To be connected to Taipei Zoo

See also

• Rail transport in Taiwan

Notes

1. The listed station codes are those used for the construction project and may differ from those used by the operator.

References

1. "Sale of AnsaldoBreda and Ansaldo STS from Finmeccanica to Hitachi Completed" (Press release). Tokyo and Rome: Hitachi Rail. 2 November 2015. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
2. Collet, Coralie; Chan, Jane (30 September 2021). "Alstom-led consortium to deliver innovative integrated system for Taipei's fully automated metro line" (Press release). Alstom. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
3. 陳怡璇 (21 January 2020). "Jié yùn huán zhuàng xiàn 1 yuè 31 rì tōngchē" 捷運環狀線 1月31日通車 [MRT Circular Line Opens to Traffic on January 31]. CNA.
4. "Xīnběi huán zhuàng xiàn qiāodìng 1/31 tōngchē!3 Yuè kāishǐ zhèngshì shōufèi" 新北環狀線敲定1/31通車！3月開始正式收費 [New Taipei Circular Line Is Finalized 1/31 to Open to Traffic! Official Fees Will Start in March]. newtalk.tw (in Chinese). 21 January 2020.
5. "Second Stage of Taipei MRT (Approved MRT line)". Comprehensive Planning Division. 4 July 2009. Archived from the original on 7 February 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
6. Pearce, Jane (17 March 2009). "Taipei Circular Line Kicks off". Railway Gazette. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
7. "Part of Circular Line Phase One Construction Successfully Awarded and Main Construction to be Launched". Department of Rapid Transit Systems. 23 December 2009. Archived from the original on 15 August 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
8. Liu, Philip (12 July 2011). "Construction on 1st-Stage Ring Section of Taipei MRT Breaks Ground". China Economic News Service. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
9. "Construction of the Circular Line Launched". Department of Rapid Transit Systems. 1 June 2011. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
10. "Huán zhuàng xiàn CF650 biāogāo jià duàn kāigōngle" 環狀線CF650標高架段開工了 [Construction of the Cf650 Elevated Section of the Circular Line Started] (PDF) (in Chinese). Department of Rapid Transit Systems. 1 May 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
11. 賴, 筱桐 (4 September 2023). "環狀線遭質疑「假移交」 新北捷：5/23已完成權責移轉 - 生活 - 自由時報電子報". news.ltn.com.tw (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 28 April 2024.
12. 臺北市政府捷運工程局 (5 July 2012). "公共藝術導覽 環狀線第一階段 環狀線第一階段" [Public Art Guide Phase 1 of the Circular Line The first stage of the circular line]. 臺北市政府捷運工程局 (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 6 August 2024.
13. "emmanuelle moureaux INC. — The Artistic Design on the Circular Line in Taipei". emmanuelle moureaux INC. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
14. "Permanent installation by Daniel Buren debuts in Taipei metro station". Lisson Gallery. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
15. "Taipei MRT Circular Line to Face Inspection Jan. 5". Global News for New Immigrants. Ministry of Interior, National Immigration Agency. 28 December 2019. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
16. "環狀線新埔民生站須站外轉乘 民眾直呼不便". Yahoo News (in Chinese). 26 October 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
17. 江, 婉儀. "捷運環狀線「中和-板橋段」11處受損嚴重 新北捷運局：今年無法恢復通車". 聯合新聞網 (in Chinese). Retrieved 28 April 2024.
18. "New Taipei MRT Circular Line quake recovery period estimated to be 1 year".