The CKS International Airport Access MRT System (中正機場聯外捷運系統) is a metro system currently connecting Taipei City and the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport with an extension to THSR Taoyuan Station and Jhongli City. Its construction will begin in late 2005. The service is schedule to begin in 2009. The construction is administrated by the Director General of Bureau of Taiwan High Speed Rail of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, which oversees the construction of high speed rail as well as MRT systems (except Taipei and Kaohsiung) in Taiwan.

History

This MRT route was originally planed to be constrcucted through a BOT (build, operate, and transfer) process. It was auctioned to Evertransit International Development Corp. (長生國際開發), a subsidiary of Ever Fortune Industrial Co. (長億實業), in 1998. However, the company failed to begin the construction. In 2003, the contract was cancelled by the government.

After the BOT project dropped out, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) decided to build the line directly through the government budget. The terminal station in Taipei City was shifted from Ximen (or Simen in Tongyong Pinyin) to the Taipei Main Station to faciltate transfers to other forms of public transportation. There was disaggrement between MOTC and the Taipei City Government regarding the exact location of the terminal station. The MOTC preferred an elevated station just north of the current rail station. On the other hand, the City Government wanted to have an underground one west of Chengde Road. The MOTC's plan was less expensive and required less time to construct, but would obstruct the scenery in the surrounding area. The two parties finally compromised, agreeing to build the station underground with the City Government covering the extra cost. The revised project was approved in September, 2004.

The construction is in the design phrase as of January, 2005.

Route

The planed route is 51.5 km long with 6 underground and 14 elevated stations. It runs from Taipei City to Jhongli City.

Stations

• Taipei Main Station (underground): Transfer to Danshui (Danshuei) Line and Banqiao (Banciao) /Nangang Line of the Taipei Rapid Transit System, the Western Line of Taiwan Railway Administration
• Sanchong (elevated): Transfer to Xinzhuang (Sinjhuang) Line of the Taipei Rapid Transit System
• Wugu Industrial District (elevated): Intersection of Jhongshan Road and Wugong Road, Sinjhuang City, transfer to Orbital Line of the Taipei Rapid Transit System
• P8 (elevated): Intersection of Jhongshan Road and Tailin Road, Taishan Township
• P7 (elevated): Interseciton of Jhongshan Road and Gueilin Street, Taishan Township
• P6 (underground): Intersection of Wunhua 1st Road and Nanshan Road, Gueishan Township
• P5 (elevated): Intersection of Wunhua 1st Road and Fusing Road, Gueishan Township
• P4 (elevated): Intersection of Wunhua 2nd Road and Wunhua North Road, Linkou Township
• P3 (elevated): At Sanbi Bridge on Nanshan Road, Lujhu Township
• P3A (elevated): At Guolin Village, Lujhu Township
• CKS Airport Terminal 1 (underground): Terminal 1 of Chiang Kai-shek International Airport
• CKS Airport Terminal 2 (underground): Terminal 2 of Chiang Kai-shek International Airport
• CKS Airport Terminal 3 (underground): Terminal 3 of Chiang Kai-shek International Airport
• B3 (elevated): Near Dayuan Interchange of No. 1 Freeway.
• B4 (elevated): Near Zihchiang Bridge at Hengshan Community, Dayuan Township
• B4A (elevated): At the northeast side of Taoyuan HSR Station Specific District
• THSR Taoyuan Station (elevated): Transfer to Taiwan High Speed Rail
• B6 (elevated): At the southwest side of Taoyuan HSR Station Specific District
• B7 (elevated): Near Siasingnan, Jhongli City
• B8 (underground): Intersection of Jhongfong Road and Huanbei Road, Jhongli City

Related Articles

• Taipei Rapid Transit System
• Rail transport in Taiwan

External Links

• Director General of Bureau of Taiwan High Speed Rail