METRO AND LIGHT RAIL WILL RESHAPE TAIWAN'S HIGH-TECH POWERHOUSE

In Kaohsiung, Taiwan, work began in October 2001 on a two-line metro which is scheduled to open at the end of 2007. In addition, plans for a light rail line are awaiting approval by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. The metro now under construction is to have 38 stations on two lines with a total of 42.7 km of track. An Orange line will run east-west. It will be entirely underground except for one station. A Red line will run north-south. Most of the line will run underground but 8.5 km will be elevated. To create a more integrated public transport system, a light rail Circle line is proposed for the outer ring of the city center. The light rail line would make use of some existing freight railway alignment and much of the route would be on-street.