Taichung to begin construction of MRT Blue Line

台中捷運藍線即將動工

New line will connect Taichung Port to Taisugar Park


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taichung City Government Rapid Transit System Bureau announced on Tuesday that the MRT Blue Line's engineering contract has been awarded, allowing the construction of substations and a machine plant to begin in June.

The announcement was made at a Taichung City Government municipal meeting, with Su Jui-wei (蘇瑞文), director of the Rapid Transit System Bureau, delivering the special report "Creating a New Era for Taichung MRT," per CNA. Su said the new line starts from Taichung Port and runs along Taiwan Boulevard to Taisugar Park.

It will have a total length of about 24.78 kilometers and will be underground in urban areas, while coastal areas will see elevated construction. The line includes 20 stations and one level-5 maintenance facility.

According to Su, urban planning and land acquisition for the new line are underway, with urban planning work expected to be completed this year. The basic design of the line has been reviewed and approved by the Cabinet’s Public Construction Commission.

Meanwhile, the MRT Green Line, currently open to traffic, is planning extensions to Dakeng and Changhua. Su said that the two extension lines are in the comprehensive planning stage.

The Dakeng extension is expected to include two elevated stations, with an estimated budget of NT$9.692 billion (US$300.3 million). The extension to Changhua will have five elevated stations, with an estimated budget of NT$25.899 billion.

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) said the MRT has been the most important municipal construction in recent years. Lu said three Taichung mayors have presided over work on the MRT Green Line.

Lu hopes to expedite construction, as previous MRT lines were built one by one, but now work on all seven lines is taking place simultaneously. Lu hopes the MRT network can be finalized during her tenure through streamlining and concurrent work, accelerating construction.