Man, biking there is just cruel tbh… Too many cars and big stroads. Would walk instead, but then the commute times would increase exponentially
Yeah and mrt travel in Taipei is basically free anyway.
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Heard it long time ago - till now there is no MRT in Keelung.
In 5-10 years
I suspect the long term thinking is:
MRT from Nankang → QiDu
Then repurpose the BaDu<->Keelung section as MRT meaning no more TRA to Keelung.
That way TRA trains can run from Nankang → BaDu and then down the east coast without having to run intertwinned Keelung trains. Leaving MRT trains to run on a dedicated set of tracks all the way from Nankang to Keelung.
For a while TRA have been saying one limit on eat coast train numbers is the need to run trains to Keelung.
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TRA has also investigated the possibility of a HSR-style punch through the mountains to get to Yilan more quickly. If this were to happen (who knows if they have the will to do it), it would presumably bypass Badu Station entirely.
Guy
It was approved in 2014 pending an environmental impact study being approved too. I haven’t heard anything since then and suspect with HSR now being approved to Ilan that we won’t hear much more about it.
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finally I’ll be able to ditch the car or avoid taking the bus. Hate the bus to Keelung
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Why?
But you will have a long wait. They say 2033 but…
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hate how bus drivers drive here, that’s it. If I can, I tend to prefer rail. I feel safer
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Ah, I thought you were gonna say traffic.
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So is this the beginning of TRA handing over Keelung service to the MRT system?
Will TRA now move forward with its own punch through the mountains (following HSR’s decision to do so with its Yilan extension) to get to the east coast more quickly?
Inquiring minds want to know!
Guy
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Had to google that
https://topics.amcham.com.tw/2023/08/new-expansions-of-taiwans-high-speed-rail/
In northern Taiwan, a new 56-km route is estimated to enable riders to get from Nangang to Yilan in less than 30 minutes. The plan has passed the first round of an environmental impact study, although the second round will be more rigorous as the proposed track will pass through 23 ecologically sensitive areas and include 11.4 km of tunnels. However, construction isn’t likely to start for another two years, with the government hoping the extension will be completed by 2036. Costs are expected to come to around NT$188 billion (US$6 billion).
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It’s kinda nice to have the east coast be a little harder to get to
Do we really want Ilan to be like going to Shih Lin ?
And just have the place over run with empty apartments bought for investment ?
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Unfortunately that cat is already out of that bag. The highway punch through the mountain already led to a (some would say terrible) change in Yilan . . .
Guy
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Try to go to yilan on any given weekend or public holiday. It’s madness
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I agree. The cat has no bag. Real estate prices and farm land prices are through the roof already in Yilan. And every Saturday morning and until noon, the line of cars heading to Yilan stretches for a couple of kilometers at least. Cars are just stopped on the freeway every Saturday trying to get on the freeway toward the tunnels and Yilan. I often pass by there on the way to certain parts of Taipei and the line of cars seems to get longer and longer every year.
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The priority for Yilan should be a solution to the very heavy traffic on the coast road around Waiao Toucheng. It’s an absolute nightmare having trucks roaring around the coast like they do. Not sure what can be done but it’s a horrible situation.
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