Taipei Railway Station

Taipei 台北 18x18px 18x18px 18x18px 18x18px
File:TMS.JPG Exterior of Taipei Railway Station
Other names	Taipei Railway Station (TRA) / Taipei Main Station (MRT)
Location	No. 49, Sec. 1, Zhongxiao W. Rd. (TRA) No. 49, Beiping W. Rd. (Metro) Zhongzheng, Taipei Taiwan
Operated by	Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation Taiwan High Speed Rail
Line(s)	Line 2 (R13)      Line 5 (BL7)      Western Line (100)      Taiwan High Speed Rail (02/TPE)      Taoyuan Airport MRT (A1)
Distance	28.3 km from Keelung
Connections	Bus stop
Construction
Structure type	Underground
Other information
Classification	特等站 (TRA level)
History
Opened	TRA: July 5, 1891 (original) September 5, 1989 (present building) Metro: December 25, 1997 THSR: March 2, 2007
Traffic
Passengers	310,898 daily (2011) (Metro) 138,465 daily (2014) (TRA) 73,059 daily (2013) (HSR)

Taipei Railway Station
Traditional Chinese	臺北車站 or 台北車站
Simplified Chinese	台北车站
Literal meaning	Taipei Station
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Táiběi Chēzhàn Tongyong Pinyin Táiběi Chejhàn Wade–Giles T'ai2-pei3 Ch'e1-chan4 Bopomofo ㄊㄞˊㄅㄟˇㄔㄜㄓㄢˋ Southern Min Hokkien POJ Tâi-pak Chhia-chām / Tâi-pak Chhia-thâu

The old Taipei Station in 1948.

Taipei Station Lobby

Taipei Station, also called Taipei Railway Station (臺北火車站, by the Taiwan Railway Administration) or Taipei Main Station (臺北車站, by the Taipei Metro), refers to the old downtown region in Taipei, Taiwan, where different modes of public transport systems converge; the station is at the center of this region. Prior to the opening of the Taipei Metro lines at the station in 1997, the region was simply known as "Taipei Station" or "Taipei Railway Station". The station handles over half a million passengers daily on conventional rail, metro, and high-speed rail.

Taipei Station and its surroundings are currently undergoing intensive renovation and redevelopment. Projects include the construction of the Taoyuan Airport MRT System (slated to begin service in 2016) and the Gate of Taipei.

Station overview

The station is located in the Zhongzheng District in downtown Taipei. The area south of the station is known as "station front" because the original railway station's main entrance faced south. Accordingly, the area just north of the station is known as "station rear." The station rear area is actually located in the Datong District. The commercial districts around the station are popular with students and commuters, and boast a large collection of bookstores, eclectic businesses targeting students, and cram schools. Because of its location at what is roughly considered the center of Taipei, the station is a popular meeting point for students and tourists.

History

The first rail station in Taipei was completed in Twatutia in 1891, when the railway to Keelung was opened for service. Initially, a temporary station was built while a permanent station was constructed in 1897. In 1901, the station was located to the east of its current location. It was rebuilt in 1940 to accommodate growing passenger traffic.

To alleviate traffic congestion caused by railroad crossings in downtown Taipei, an underground railway tunnel between Huashan and Wanhua was built along with the present station building as part of the Taipei Railway Underground Project. When the underground system was completed on September 2, 1989, railway service was moved to the newly completed building (completed on September 5, 1989) and the old building as well as a temporary station were demolished.

The current station was further expanded with the opening of the Taipei Metro. The metro station is connected to the basement of the railway station and opened to passenger traffic in 1997 to the Danshui Line (now the Tamsui Line). Extensive underground malls now exist at the front and back of the station, which emulate those found in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. The station also became a terminus for Taiwan High Speed Rail trains when the network began service in 2007.

Ongoing developments

Taipei Station and the area surrounding it have been undergoing renovation since 2005. Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki was chosen to design two skyscrapers that will surround the railroad station. Maki will also oversee the renovation of Taipei Station. The height of the taller tower will be 76 stories, whereas the shorter tower will be 56 stories. The two skyscrapers will be constructed on empty parcels found adjacent to Taipei Station, above the future Taoyuan Airport MRT station.

The station interior underwent renovation work from February to October 2011. Basement restrooms were renovated, the basement and first floor preparations for additional Breeze Plaza retail space began, the large ticket office in the first floor lobby was removed, and additional retail space was allocated. In addition, the flooring on the first floor was completely replaced, fire and evacuation regulations were improved, and solar panels will be installed on the station roof.

Services

The station itself is a large building which houses multiple rail services as well as serving as the headquarters of the Taiwan Railway Administration. The railway platforms are located on the B2 level, while the B1 level serves as a waiting area. Ticketing services are on the first floor while the second floor contains a food court and several stores, including the shopping center (Breeze Taipei Station). The upper levels are occupied by TRA offices.

• Taiwan Railway Administration: Passengers can board a train to most cities in Taiwan without transferring. East-bound (clockwise) trains travel to Keelung, Yilan, Hualien, Taitung, etc. West-bound (counterclockwise) trains go to Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, etc.

• Taipei Metro: Taipei Main Station is served by both the Line 2 and Line 5 directly and is a major transfer hub.

• Taiwan High Speed Rail: Scheduled HSR services began operating from Taipei Station on March 2, 2007. Previously, southbound travelers had to board at HSR Banqiao Station, in western Taipei. Using platforms originally used by TRA, the station serves around 140 trains per day (departing and arriving).

• Taipei Bus Station This multi-use complex is located adjacent to Taipei Station.
  • City Buses: Bus routes to destinations within Taipei and New Taipei, both located in the Taipei Basin.
  • Intercity Buses: Many bus companies provide service from Taipei to cites in the western half of Taiwan as well as Yilan. They also provide service to the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport with traveling time around forty minutes.

• Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT System: A rail route to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is planned for completion in 2013.

Platform layout

TRA and THSR

1 2	1A 1B	■ Taiwan High Speed Rail (Southbound)	Toward Banqiao, Taoyuan, Taichung, Zuoying
3 4	2A 2B	■ Taiwan High Speed Rail (Northbound)	Toward Nangang (under construction)
5	N/A	■ Through services	Trains do not stop here
6 7	3A 3B	■ Western Line (Southbound)	Toward Banqiao, Hsinchu, Taichung, Chiayi, Kaohsiung, Pingtung
		■ Eastern Line (Northbound, through traffic)	Toward Banqiao, Shulin
8 9	4A 4B	■ Western Line (Northbound)	Toward Songshan, Xizhi, Qidu, Keelung
		■ Eastern Line (Southbound, through traffic and cross-line)	Toward Yilan, Hualien, Taitung, Kaohsiung (through the South-Link Line)

Taipei Metro

The Metro concourse of Taipei Main Station

1	■ Line 2 (Northbound, through traffic)	Toward Tamsui
	■ Line 2 (Northbound, through traffic)	Toward Beitou
2	■ Line 2 (Southbound, through traffic)	Toward Xiangshan
	■ Line 2 (Southbound, through traffic)	Toward Daan
3	■ Line 5 (Eastbound)	Toward Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center
4	■ Line 5 (Westbound)	Toward Far Eastern Hospital
	■ Line 5 (Westbound)	Toward Yongning

Station layout

TRA station front

File:Taipei platform.jpg

One of the underground railway platforms of the TRA

Platform of the Metro Red Line

File:Platform of Blue Line in Taipei Main Station.JPG

Platform of the Metro Blue Line

THSR underground tracks

6F ｜ 3F	Taiwan Railway Administration Offices	Taiwan Railway Administration, Scheduling Control Center TRA Employee Rooms YMCA, other private companies (Rented) TRA Auditorium
2F	Retail Level	Taipei Station Breeze Center, Food Court (Elevator at East Entrance 2)
		Restrooms
Ground Level	Lobby	Entrance/Exit TRA/THSR ticketing, automatic ticket machines, tourism counter TRA Information Office, TRA Station Manager Office, railway police TRA information desk, THSR police, THSR military police
		TRA Entrance/Exit, Guard
	TRA Luggage Office	TRA Parcel Center (Separate structure)
	THSR Administration	Offices
B1	Concourse	THSR ticketing, TRA/THSR automatic ticketing, ticket gates, waiting area Restrooms
		Parking lot, Military Transportation Service
		Connects to B1 of the Taipei Metro
	Underground passageway	Zhongshan Metro Mall, Taipei Underground Market, restrooms
		Connects to B1 of TRA/THSR
B2	Metro Lobby	Information desk, faregates, restrooms (Inside fare area) Line 2, Line 5 transfer area, escalators to platforms
	Metro Offices (Separate structure)	Metro Control Center briefing rooms
2A	TRA Control Level	TRA Traffic Room, Central Station Monitoring Center
2B	Platform 1A	THSR toward Zuoying (Banqiao)
	Island platform
	Platform 1B	THSR toward Zuoying (Banqiao)
	Platform 2A	THSR toward Zuoying (Banqiao, for the future extension to Nangang)
	Island platform
	Platform 2B	THSR toward Zuoying (Banqiao, for the future extension to Nangang)
	Fifth track	TRA Western Line does not stop here
	Platform 3A	TRA Western Line toward Taichung, Kaohsiung (Wanhua)
	Island platform
	Platform 3B	TRA Eastern Line toward Shulin (Wanhua)
	Platform 4A	TRA Western Line toward Keelung (Songshan)
	Island platform
	Platform 4B	TRA Eastern Line toward Yilan, Hualien, Taitung (Songshan)
	TRA Offices Level	Staff training classroom
2C	Machinery Level	Machinery
B3	Concourse (Transfer to Metro TRA Entrance)	TRA/THSR ticketing, automatic ticket machines, ticket gates Escalator to B2 - TRA/THSR platforms
		Metro faregates, information desk, lost and found, gallery Restrooms (inside and outside fare zone), Automatic ticket dispensing machines One-way faregates
	Platform 3	←   Line 5 toward Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center (Shandao Temple)
	Island platform, doors open on the left
	Platform 4	→   Line 5 toward Dingpu/ Far Eastern Hospital (Ximen) →
	Control Center (Separate structure)	High-Capacity Traffic Control Center (Another traffic center exists)
B4	Platform 1	←   Line 2 toward Tamsui/ Beitou (Zhongshan)
	Island platform, doors open on the left
	Platform 2	→   Line 2 toward Xiangshan/ Daan (NTU Hospital) →

Around the station

• Heterotopias
• Cosmos Hotel
• Shoude Building
• Caesar Park
• National Taiwan Museum (between this station and NTU Hospital)
• ZhongzhengFirst Police District, Taipei City Police Department
• Chunghwa Post
• National Taiwan University Hospital

See also

• Rail transport in Taiwan
• List of railway stations in Taiwan

External links

• Taipei Main Station official website
• Taiwan Railway Administration official website

Preceding station		Taiwan Railway Administration		Following station
Songshan toward Keelung		Western Line		Wanhua toward Kaohsiung
Preceding station		Taiwan High Speed Rail		Following station
Terminus		Taiwan High Speed Rail		Banqiao toward Zuoying
Preceding station		Taipei Metro		Following station
Zhongshan toward Tamsui		Line 2 Tamsui		NTU Hospital toward Xiangshan
Ximen toward Dingpu		Line 5 Nangang		Shandao Temple toward Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center