Phase 2 comprises two sections at either end of the line, and adds nine stations. The western Hamasen - Singlong Road section, via Wufu 4th Road and Dagong Road, adds three new stations, while the eastern Lizihnei - Rainbow Park section, which runs via Depot, Ersheng Road, Wuchang Road, Kuochi Vocational High School and Misheng Hospital, adds six stations.
Construction of the line began in 2013, with the 8.7km, 14-station Phase 1 opening in 2015. Services were initially operated using a fleet of CAF Urbos LRVs. The remaining 9.3km 15-station section connecting Singlong Road with Rainbow Park, which will complete the 22.1km circle, is scheduled to open in 2023.
A new fleet of 15 Alstom Citadis X05 low-floor LRVs were also introduced to the line in early November, under a contract awarded in January 2017.
The LRVs can operate autonomously using Alstom’s Autonomy charging solution, combined with the Citadis Ecopack energy storage system and a catenary-free recharging system at each station.
The vehicles also feature permanent magnetic motors, double doors, air-conditioning, LED lighting and digital passenger information systems. The LRVs are expected to offer a 25% reduction in energy consumption compared with older models, and have simplified subsystem integration, reducing maintenance costs.
The LRVs were manufactured and assembled in France, with testing, training and warranty services carried out in Taiwan.
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