Taipei Main Station

Taipei Main Station (Chinese: 台北車站; pinyin: Táiběi chēzhàn) is a railway and metro station in Taipei, Taiwan.[13] It is served by Taiwan High Speed Rail, the Taiwan Railways Administration, and the Taipei Metro. It is also connected through underground passageways to the terminal station of Taoyuan Airport MRT and the Taipei Bus Station. In 2017, it was the busiest station on all three rail systems, with a total of 190 million entries and exits.

For the nearby Taoyuan Metro station, see Taipei Main Station (Taoyuan Metro).

Taipei 台北·臺北
THSR and TRA railway station
Station exterior
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	台北
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Táiběi Bopomofo ㄊㄞˊ ㄅㄟˇ Hakka Romanization Tǒi-běd (Sixian dialect) Toi-bed (Hailu dialect) Southern Min Tâi-lô Tâi-pak
General information
Location	3 Beiping W Rd Zhongzheng District, Taipei[1] Taiwan
Coordinates	25.0475°N 121.5170°E / 25.0475; 121.5170[1]
Distance	6 km (THSR)[2] 28.3 km to Keelung (TRA)[3]
Connections	Rapid transit Local bus Coach      Taoyuan Airport MRT (A1 Taipei Main Station)
Construction
Structure type	Underground
Other information
Station code	TPE／02 (THSR) 100 (TRA three-digit)[1] 1008 (TRA four-digit)[1] A10 (TRA statistical)[4] ㄊㄞ (TRA telegraph)
Classification	Special class (Chinese: 特等) (TRA)[5]
Website	www.thsrc.com.tw/en/StationInfo/Prospect/53156954-1528-461f-af8b-54c517a435a4 (THSR) www.railway.gov.tw/taipei/ (in Chinese) (TRA)
History
Opened	1891-10-20[6]
Rebuilt	1989-09-02[7]
Electrified	1978-01-09[8]
Previous names	Taihoku (Japanese: 臺北)
Key dates
1901-08-25	Rebuilt
1918-04	Relocated
1941	Rebuilt
1985-07-14	Rebuilt
2007-03-02	THSR opened[9]
Traffic
Passengers (2018)	30.403 million per year[10]  3.27% (THSR)
Rank	1 out of 12
Passengers (2017)	45.935 million per year[4]  1.22% (TRA)
Rank	1 out of 228
Services
Preceding station Taiwan High Speed Rail Following station Nangang Terminus THSR Banqiao towards Zuoying Preceding station Taiwan Railways Following station Songshan towards Keelung Western Trunk line Wanhua towards Pingtung
Location
Taipei Location within Taiwan

Taipei Main Station 台北車站
Taipei metro station
Entrance M5
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	台北車站
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Táiběi Chēzhàn Bopomofo ㄊㄞˊ ㄅㄟˇ ㄔㄜ ㄓㄢˋ
General information
Location	49 Sec 1 Zhongxiao W Rd Zhongzheng District, Taipei Taiwan
Construction
Structure type	Underground
Bicycle facilities	No access
Other information
Station code	R10, BL12
Website	web.metro.taipei/e/stationdetail2010.asp?ID=BL12+R10-051
History
Opened	1997-12-25[11]
Key dates
1999-12-24	Bannan line opened
Traffic
Passengers (2017)	114.987 million per year[12]  0.02%
Rank	1 out of 108
Services
Preceding station Taipei Metro Following station Zhongshan towards Tamsui or Beitou Tamsui–Xinyi line NTU Hospital towards Xiangshan or Daan Ximen towards Dingpu or Far Eastern Hospital Bannan line Shandao Temple towards Nangang Exhib Center

The old Taipei station in 1948.

Taipei station Lobby

Station overview

The four-level station is located in Zhongzheng District in downtown Taipei. The underground station 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 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.

Services

The station itself is a large building which houses multiple rail services as well as serving as the headquarters of the Taiwan Railways 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).[14] The upper levels are occupied by TRA offices.

• Taiwan Railways 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 Red line and Blue line directly and is a major transfer hub.
• Taiwan High Speed Rail: Scheduled HSR services began operating from Taipei on 2 March 2007. HSR train used to terminate at Banqiao station. Using platforms originally used by TRA, the station serves around 140 trains per day (departing and arriving).[15]
• Taipei Bus Station This multi-use complex is located adjacent to Taipei station.[16]
  • 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 cities 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 new rail line to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport which started operating on 2 February 2017.[17][18]

Platform layout

TRA and THSR

1 2	1A 1B	■ Taiwan High Speed Rail (southbound)	Towards Banqiao, Taoyuan, Taichung, Zuoying
3 4	2A 2B	■ Taiwan High Speed Rail (northbound)	Towards Nangang
5	N/A	■ Through services	Trains do not stop here
6 7	3A 3B	■ West Coast line (southbound)	Towards Banqiao, Hsinchu, Taichung, Chiayi, Kaohsiung, Pingtung
		■ West Coast line (northbound, through traffic)	Towards Banqiao, Shulin
8 9	4A 4B	■ West Coast line (northbound)	Towards Songshan, Xizhi, Qidu, Keelung
		■ West Coast line (southbound, through traffic and cross-line)	Towards Yilan, Hualien, Taitung, Kaohsiung (through the South-link line)

Taipei Metro (MRT)

The Metro concourse of Taipei Main station

1	■ Red line (northbound, through traffic)	Towards Tamsui
	■ Red line (northbound, through traffic)	Towards Beitou
2	■ Red line (southbound, through traffic)	Towards Xiangshan
	■ Red line (southbound, through traffic)	Towards Daan
3	■ Blue line (Eastbound)	Towards Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center
	■ Blue line (Eastbound)	Towards Kunyang
4	■ Blue line (Westbound)	Towards Far Eastern Hospital
	■ Blue line (Westbound)	Towards Dingpu

Station layout

TRA station front

One of the underground railway platforms of the TRA

Platform of the Metro Red line

Platform of the Metro Blue line

THSR underground tracks

6F ｜ 3F	Taiwan Railways Administration offices	Taiwan Railways 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
L1	Street level	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
		Car park, Military Transportation Service
		Connects to B1 of the Taipei Metro
	Underground passageway	Zhongshan Metro Mall, Taipei Underground Market, Eslite Taipei Station, restrooms
		Connects to B1 of TRA/THSR, Taipei Bus Station
B2	Metro Lobby	Information desk, faregates, restrooms (Inside fare area) Red line, Blue line 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 towards Zuoying (Banqiao)
	Island platform
	Platform 1B	THSR towards Zuoying (Banqiao)
	Platform 2A	THSR towards Nangang
	Island platform
	Platform 2B	THSR towards Nangang
	Fifth track	West Coast line does not stop here
	Platform 3A	West Coast line towards Taichung, Kaohsiung (Wanhua)
	Island platform
	Platform 3B	West Coast line towards Shulin (Wanhua)
	Platform 4A	West Coast line towards Keelung (Songshan)
	Island platform
	Platform 4B	West Coast line towards 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	← Bannan line towards Nangang Exhib Center (BL13 Shandao Temple)
	Island platform, doors open on the left
	Platform 4	→ Bannan line towards Dingpu / Far Eastern Hospital (BL11 Ximen) →
	Control Center (Separate structure)	High-Capacity Traffic Control Center (Another traffic center exists)
B4	Platform 1	← Tamsui–Xinyi line towards Tamsui / Beitou (R11 Zhongshan)
	Island platform, doors open on the left
	Platform 2	→ Tamsui–Xinyi line towards Xiangshan / Daan (R09 NTU Hospital) →

Around the station

"Daydream" statue in the concourse of the Taipei Main station

（K）K Underground Mall

• Exit M1／Y2：　TRA／THSR（Entrance North 1）
• Exit M2：Civic Blvd Expressway
• Exit M3：Cosmos Hotel Taipei/ Talk Club Taiwan(美立達留學遊學中心)
• Exit M4：TRA／THSR（Entrance South 1）
• Exit M5：Station Front Plaza
• Exit M6：Caesar Park Hotel Taipei, National Taiwan Museum
• Exit M7：Zhongshan N. Rd.
• Exit M8：Gongyuan Rd, YMCA Taipei

（M）Zhongshan Metro Mall

• Taipei Bus Station
• Q Square
• Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei
• Zhongshan Station （R11、G14）, Shuanglian station（R12）

（Y）Taipei City Mall

Taoyuan Metro A1 Taipei Main station in February 2017.

• Palais de Chine Hotel Taipei
• Taipei Station Wholesale Market
• Beimen（G13）
• Taipei main station（A1）, Taoyuan International Airport MRT

（Z）Station Front Metro Mall

• Taipei West Bus Station Terminal A
• Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store
• Guanqian Rd, Land Bank, Taiwan Cooperative Bank
• Chongqing S. Rd, First Bank
• North Gate
• Taipei Post Office of Chunghwa Post

History

Map including Taipei Main Station (labeled as T’ai-pei Station 台北車站) (1950s)

The first rail station in Taipei was completed in Twatutia in 1891, during Qing rule, when the railway to Keelung was opened for service.[19][20] Initially, a temporary station was built while a permanent station was constructed in 1897, during Japanese rule (1895-1945). 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.[21] When the underground system was completed on 2 September 1989, railway service was moved to the newly completed building (completed on 5 September 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 Tamsui–Xinyi line. Extensive underground malls now exist at the front and back of the station,[22] 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.[23] 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.[24] The two skyscrapers will be constructed on empty parcels found adjacent to Taipei station, above the Taoyuan Airport MRT station.

The station interior underwent renovation work from February to October 2011.[25] 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.[25] 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.[25]

See also

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

References

Notes

1. "車站基本資料集". Taiwan Railways Administration. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
2. 高鐵沿線里程座標相關資料. data.gov.tw (in Chinese). Retrieved 30 August 2018.
3. 各站營業里程-1.西部幹線. Taiwan Railways Administration (in Chinese). 11 December 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
4. 臺鐵統計資訊. Taiwan Railways Administration (in Chinese). Retrieved 30 August 2018.
5. 車站數-按等級別分 (PDF). Taiwan Railways Administration (in Chinese). Retrieved 30 October 2018.
6. Lee, Yung-chang (April 2017). A Living Landmark (PDF). Taipei, Taiwan: Taiwan Railways Administration, MOTC. ISBN 978-986-05-1933-4. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
7. 臺北車站地下化. Railway Reconstruction Bureau, MOTC (in Chinese). Retrieved 30 August 2018.
8. 臺灣鐵路電訊. Taiwan Railways Administration (in Chinese). Retrieved 4 September 2018.
9. 計畫介紹- 高鐵建設- 台灣高鐵. Railway Bureau, MOTC (in Chinese). Retrieved 29 August 2018.
10. 交通部統計查詢網. stat.motc.gov.tw (in Chinese). Retrieved 30 October 2018.
11. "Chronicles". Taipei Metro. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
12. 臺北市交通統計查詢系統. dotstat.taipei.gov.tw (in Chinese). Retrieved 15 September 2018.
13. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/taipei-main-station-gets-facelift-at-125
14. "More than just a station". Taiwan Review. 2010-02-01. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
15. 旅運持續成長，台灣高鐵週五至週一增班 (in Chinese). THSRC. 31 December 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
16. "「交九」開發案竣工　臺北轉運站啟用營運". Department of Rapid Transit Systems. 2009-09-01. Retrieved 2010-06-20.
17. "Work on airport MRT's Taipei section starts". Taipei Times. 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
18. 專題報導 Special Report: 中正國際機場聯外捷運線A1車站之規劃設計. Department of Rapid Transit Systems. 2006-07-01. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
19. "Building History of Main Routes of Taiwan Railway". Taiwan Railways Administration. Retrieved 2010-06-16.
20. Davidson (1903), p. 249.
21. "Taiwan Railway History". Taiwan Railways Administration. Retrieved 2010-06-16.
22. MacDonald, Phil (2007). Taiwan. National Geographic Books. p. 59. ISBN 1426201451.
23. "Japanese architect wins design bid". Taipei Times. Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 2005-07-20. p. 11. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
24. "Diaphragm Wall and Foundation Piles Construction of Taipei Main Station JD Buildings". Department of Rapid Transit Systems. 2011-07-01. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
25. 2-10月大翻修 台北車站黑暗期來了 (in Chinese). 中國時報. 2011-01-17. Archived from the original on 2011-01-20. Retrieved 2011-01-25.

Bibliography

• Davidson, James W. (1903). The Island of Formosa, Past and Present : history, people, resources, and commercial prospects : tea, camphor, sugar, gold, coal, sulphur, economical plants, and other productions. London and New York: Macmillan. OL 6931635M.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

External links

• THSR Taipei Station
• TRA Taipei Station
• TRTC Route Map & Timetables