Taichung MRT System Breaks Ground

Taipei, Oct. 8, 2009 (CENS)--The green-line engineering project of Taichung City mass transit system will break ground today (Oct. 8), which will make Taichung the third city in Taiwan with an MRT system, after Taipei and Kaohsiung, upon the completion of the project in 2015.

President Ma Ying-jeou will preside over the ground-breaking ceremony for the project. The entire Taichung MRT project boasts a total budget of NT$51.4 billion. Taichung city government will establish the preparatory office for Taichung Rapid Transit Corp. next Jan. 1.

The construction works for the system will be undertaken by Taipei Rapid Transit Corp. which will soon hold opening bidding for the electrical-machinery system of the project. The bidding will be an open one, allowing makers of both rubber- and steel-wheel trains to take part.

The north-south green line will extend 16.71 kilometers on elevated route, starting from the Taichung station of the high-speed rail in Wuri, passing downtown Taichung, and ending at Beitun area. It will be followed by the east-west blue line connecting Taichung train station and Tunghai University, as well as the orange line connecting Shuinan economic zone and Wufeng (possibly high-tech research park in Chunghsin New Village, site of former Taiwan provincial government, too).