Taipei City Government

The overall construction progress of the Xinyi eastern extension, which has been called one of the most challenging MRT construction projects in history, has reached 87%. With the exception of civil engineering, which is still underway, the final key phase prior to opening for operations is train dynamic testing, which commenced in July.

In order not to influence the regular operations of the Taipei MRT red line, the testing operations can only be carried out during nighttime hours. Following the departure of the last train from Xiangshan Station, the DORTS team immediately engages in dynamic testing and spares no effort in striving towards the goal of completing construction by the end of the year. 

DORTS Systemwide Electrical & Mechanical Project Office (SEMPO), which is responsible for electromechanical engineering, stated that in implementing dynamic testing, the tracks must first be manually inspected on foot while the power is cut off. After it has been confirmed that there are no obstacles on the tracks, temporary fences separating operational and non-operational areas can be removed, and then a slow-speed track inspection can be carried out at 10 kilometers per hour to confirm that the testing route is clear and free of hazards. The dynamic testing can only commence following these confirmation procedures.

SEMPO stated that dynamic testing includes several tasks, the first of which is safety braking distance testing, which verifies that braking functionality meets standards at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour. This is followed by control line verification testing, which confirms that the EMUs receive correct speed codes. The final test is programmed stopping, which verifies that EMUs can automatically stop at the correct position on the platforms and that the doors open smoothly.

In order to enable the public to gain an understanding of the progress of Xinyi eastern extension, DORTS specially produced a short video in which SEMPO Chief Chang Yu-chia leads everyone on a late-night tour of the dynamic testing. 

Chief Chang pointed out that comprehensive testing operations take about 2 hours, and the tested EMUs must be returned to Xiangshan Station by 4:30 a.m. DORTS carries out track inspections and train deployments prior to the opening of the line for operations in order to ensure that the first train will smoothly depart for Tamsui before 6 a.m. and the mission is considered to have been successfully completed. 

DORTS emphasized that Xinyi eastern extension continues eastbound from the end of the tail track at Xiangshan Station and extends the original existing high-capacity underground project eastward for a length of 1.4 km. Following the completion of construction, the transportation efficiency of the Xinyi line will increase significantly, and it will be integrated with the entire network to maximize overall performance and provide the public with safe and comfortable MRT services.