Red Line (Taipei Metro)

Red Line (Taipei Metro)

The Red Line comprises three lines of the Taipei Rapid Transit System: the (recently and controversially named) Tamsui Line (formerly "Danshui"), the Xinbeitou Branch Line, and the Xinyi Line. When completed, it will include a total of 30 stations serving the Tamsui, Beitou, Shilin, Datong, Zhongshan, Zhongzheng, Daan, and Xinyi districts, stretching about 30 km long. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station borders the Tamsui Line and the Xinyi Line; north of the station is the Tamsui Line, south is the Xinyi Line.

The Tamsui Line and Xinbeitou Branch Line are in revenue service. With the completion of the Xinyi Line in December 2012, metro trains will travel from the Tamsui Line directly onto the Xinyi Line. Currently, Tamsui Line trains are transferred directly to the Xindian Line or the Zhonghe Line.

The Tamsui Line section runs mostly along the former Taiwan Railway Administration's Tamsui Line, where most of the tracks and stations have been renovated, except in the Zhongzheng district, where a new tunnel was constructed due to lack of surface right-of-way. The Xinyi Line is currently under construction and will be completely underground. The excavation of tunnels using the cut-and-cover method have resulted in large scale detouring of road traffic.

The Red Line is a high-capacity metro system. Routes south of Yuanshan Station are underground; routes between Yuanshan Station and Beitou Station are elevated; routes between Beitou Station and Hongshulin Station are at-grade; and Tamsui Station is elevated.