Taipei's Maokong Gondola service to be shut down for 16 days starting May 20

台北貓空纜車將於5月20日起關閉16天

Taipei's Maokong Gondola service to be suspended for maintenance from May 20 to June 4


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- The Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (TRTC) announced on Monday (May 13) that the Maokong Gondola service will be shut down for 16 days starting Monday (May 20).

Service for the Maokong Gondola will be suspended from May 20 to June 4 in order to carry out its annual routine maintenance regimen, according to the announcement. Service is slated to resume on June 5 and will be confirmed with announcements on the MRT platform information display system, station broadcasting, the 台北捷運Go app, and the @metro.taipei Facebook page.

Each year, service is suspended to allow for the inspection of cables, overhaul of equipment, and testing to ensure the safety and stability of the system. This year's project includes maintenance work on the wheel bearings, hydraulic cylinders, main motors, cable wheels, and station entrance and exit guidance devices.

The main reason that maintenance work is scheduled for May is to avoid the thunderstorm season from June to August. Late June, in particular, typically is a period when frequent thunderstorms occur.

In addition, the suspension of service was scheduled to follow Mother's Day (May 12) and to end before the Dragon Boat Festival (June 7).

A total of 2.11 million passengers rode the cable car service last year, a rise of over 20,000 riders or a 1.1 percent increase over the previous year, according to TRTC statistics. The average availability of the system last year was 99.99 percent, matching the same percentage in 2017, making it one of the best performing cable-car services built by French manufacturer Poma in the world.