Taichung Mass Rapid Transit

Taichung, Taiwan

Discover how Otis leveraged robust elevator and escalator solutions and careful coordination to help Taiwan’s second-largest city move forward

The city’s first rapid-transit system, Taichung Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Green Line features an elevated track connecting 18 stations in densely populated areas. Otis delivered robust solutions to help handle passenger traffic and partnered closely with construction teams and local officials to meet unique installation challenges.

Taichung MRT

Project Facts

Completed: September 2019
Description: Mostly elevated high-speed railway system
Size: 18 Stations
General Contractor/Project Manager: Continental Engineering Co., Limited
Project Construction Supervisor: Systemwide E&M Project Office, Department of Rapid Transit Systems, Taipei City Government

Unique Requirements

To complete the project, the Otis team was tasked with delivering heavy-duty escalator and elevator solutions to move passengers to and from train platforms, and coordinating installation within tight space constraints and on a schedule that would not disrupt daily pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

Otis Innovation

Otis contributed 117 515NPE-L Heavy-Duty escalators and 59 Otis TOVF TIARA elevators, designed for the heavy traffic demands of public spaces and indoor/outdoor use. We also coordinated with local communities to develop an installation plan that would meet the unique challenges of working in densely populated neighborhoods.

117 515NPE-L Heavy-Duty escalators icon

117 515NPE-L Heavy-Duty escalators

Otis GECS-F2 control system icon

Otis GECS-F2 control system

59 Otis TOVF TIARA elevators

Elevator World Project of the Year 2022 icon

Elevator World Project of the Year 2022

Bringing a higher level of care and coordination to a critical high-speed rail project

Otis was skillful at exercising project management and stakeholder coordination. The success of the project was due in large part to respecting the different perspectives of a number of stakeholders, including residents, vendors and various team members. This inclusiveness was vital in developing a comprehensive and successful installation plan.

-Taichung Metro CJ930 Project Manager, CEC, Sam Wang

Taichung Mass Rapid Transit: A mass-transit solution for Taiwan’s second-largest city

A product of more than 30 years of planning and 13 years of construction, Taiwan’s Taichung Mass Rapid Transit Green Line marks the first rapid-transit system for a city of more than 2.8 million residents who had historically relied on scooters and automobiles for transportation.

The nearly 17 km, two-track elevated railway features 18 trains operating across 18 stations from 6 a.m. to midnight daily. Future plans call for the Green Line to grow by several extensions, along with three other metro lines that will fan out across the city.

A project packed with challenges

The Taichung Mass Rapid Transit project required robust elevator and escalator solutions that could reliably transport people to its elevated train platforms, while ensuring passenger safety, enduring heavy daily traffic and withstanding the extremes of indoor and outdoor use. But the real challenge of the Taichung MRT project was in installation and coordination.

For the escalators, multi-ton truss sections had to be maneuvered into position by crane into the metro’s newly constructed concrete structures and within exceedingly tight space tolerances, some as close as five to six meters of surrounding buildings.

In addition, due to the dense population of the areas surrounding the metro stations, installation had to be carefully planned to minimize disruptions from a noise, traffic and safety perspective.

Solution

As an industry leader with solutions to meet the unique needs of public transportation applications, Otis was uniquely qualified to support the Taichung MRT project. Our solution included 117 515NPE-L Heavy-Duty escalators – our heaviest public-use escalator – equipped with a series of robust safety features. We also supplied 59 Otis TOVF TIARA elevators, a new Otis GECS-F2 control system and a custom monitor board to remotely control equipment in an emergency.

The real story of the Taichung MRT project, however, isn’t in the solutions Otis delivered, but how we delivered them – through careful coordination, open communication and collaboration with the local community.

To meet the challenges associated with escalator truss installation, we worked closely with a third-party consultant to calculate and develop specific hoisting and installation techniques. Then, during construction, the team used platforms to install temporary electric cranes on the hoisting points. Each truss segment could be hoisted into the station, where mechanics would assemble the truss.

Otis also developed installation timelines and plans for each neighborhood, working locally to develop a detailed traffic analysis report. To limit disruption, Otis teams worked overnight between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. on seven of the 18 elevated stations. Along the way we maintained regular communication and gave prior notice to those living and working in the areas that would be affected by installation work.

Project of the Year 2022 icon
Overall, the Taichung MRT project showcased our unique ability to combine global strength and expertise with local care and commitment. Completed in September 2019, the project was recognized as an Elevator World Project of the Year for 2022.