Superb :roflmao:.
The other day, I was chatting with an engineer who is working on the MRT line to the airport. According to him, the project is about a couple of years behind schedule, and probably growing. The original schedule was supposed to be completed by 2013-14, but it looks like that it might be closer to 2015-17. Again, this is just hearsay.
[quote=“PigBloodCake”][quote=“Belgian Pie”]
Or maybe it was the French themselves that did the design and planning of the HSR line … so, they had only one example … Charles de Gaulle airport.[/quote]
Leave it to the French to screw up everything 
[/quote]
The TGV stops at CDG so it is good for intercity connection but it is true that RER to Paris from CDG is not the best.
The other day, I was chatting with an engineer who is working on the MRT line to the airport. According to him, the project is about a couple of years behind schedule, and probably growing. The original schedule was supposed to be completed by 2013-14, but it looks like that it might be closer to 2015-17. Again, this is just hearsay.[/quote]
The line to the airport was already behind schedule back in the mid 1990s, when it went through a series of contractors even before any construction began.
The other day, I was chatting with an engineer who is working on the MRT line to the airport. According to him, the project is about a couple of years behind schedule, and probably growing. The original schedule was supposed to be completed by 2013-14, but it looks like that it might be closer to 2015-17. Again, this is just hearsay.[/quote]
The line to the airport was already behind schedule back in the mid 1990s, when it went through a series of contractors even before any construction began.[/quote]
More proof how guanxi is possibly the worst thing ever.
One day the mighty Taoyuan Aerotropolis 
will spring up around the Taoyuan HSR Station and all will become clear.
except the only arrivals and departures will be more buses to/from TPE fka CKS. 
The HSR routing is not only the route itself but the purchase of development land surrounding the right of way. The land surrounding will be progressively sold for development (this is already the case for Taoyuan station where effectively there will be a shopping mall, business park and residential areas. It’s not so much about the practicality of it all but more of the fact that it does promote social and economical development and makes the HSR much more financially viable in the long run. The airport itself is also planned to be extended with a terminal 3 on its way but in effect no one will live in that area anyway so the high capacity of the HSR (about 800 seating) running into the airport itself is not warranted and simply does not make economic sense
Oh and by the way the choice of routing was not dictated by foreigners at all but a choice of the government local and national according to studies done at the time. The actual alignment design to meet those government requirements was however conducted by a hoard of engineers from across the globe.
So what you are saying is that THSR and business developers (and other interested parties, like government officials, no doubt) are colluding to herd travelers through what amounts to a giant shopping mall before they are are even allowed to reach the airport? Call me a cynic, but I wouldn’t call that “promoting social and economical development.”
It would be better for airport passengers if the HSR terminal was in the airport itself, but then it would be farther away from other parts of Taoyuan. Once the link from the airport to Taoyuan HSR is finished I think it is a fair compromise.
[quote=“monkey”]
So what you are saying is that THSR and business developers (and other interested parties, like government officials, no doubt) are colluding to herd travelers through what amounts to a giant shopping mall before they are are even allowed to reach the airport? Call me a cynic, but I wouldn’t call that “promoting social and economical development.”[/quote]
HEY! Just a goddamn MINUTE! It absolutely IS promoting social and economical development… with Taiwanese characteristics. Clowns or lunatics. Whichever, those penises are the ones running the asylum. What a JOKE! 
So what you are saying is that THSR and business developers (and other interested parties, like government officials, no doubt) are colluding to herd travelers through what amounts to a giant shopping mall before they are are even allowed to reach the airport? Call me a cynic, but I wouldn’t call that “promoting social and economical development.”[/quote]
Nah what I’m actually trying to say is that a mega project such as the HSR can not finance itself alone just through selling tickets and doing it the way they did actually makes it and local business very profitable, arguably to the detriment of practicality for the airport passengers, but the upcoming link should make it easier
So what you are saying is that THSR and business developers (and other interested parties, like government officials, no doubt) are colluding to herd travelers through what amounts to a giant shopping mall before they are are even allowed to reach the airport? Call me a cynic, but I wouldn’t call that “promoting social and economical development.”[/quote]
Nah what I’m actually trying to say is that a mega project such as the HSR can not finance itself alone just through selling tickets and doing it the way they did actually makes it and local business very profitable, arguably to the detriment of practicality for the airport passengers, but the upcoming link should make it easier[/quote]
… which will have its grand opening in… 2020 if we are lucky.
Speaking of openings, has anyone heard anything regarding the Yunlin HSR station opening up?
Has it been build already?
Another three years yet, I’m afraid.
Oh well… I was hoping soon since it looks like the surrounding area is built, sidewalks, roads, parking lots, and landscaping (that hasn’t been maintained in months), and what I remember to be the station, but I realy didn’t pay much attention to that aspect since everything just looked a little odd. I’ll drive through there again this week.
It would be nice if it was soon though, would cut 45 minutes off my trips to Taipei.
The one in Miaoli is the same, there is some resistance to getting the stations approved but its going to happen , they are waiting on the EPA approval for the station now.
Having a HSR station nearby is pretty handy.
The other day, I was chatting with an engineer who is working on the MRT line to the airport. According to him, the project is about a couple of years behind schedule, and probably growing. The original schedule was supposed to be completed by 2013-14, but it looks like that it might be closer to 2015-17. Again, this is just hearsay.[/quote]
The line to the airport was already behind schedule back in the mid 1990s, when it went through a series of contractors even before any construction began.[/quote]
Right, and after the Evertransit/KMT Central Holdings scandal the entire BOT project was scrapped. The original alignment was to follow the TRA line to Taoyuan City, then loop to the back of the airport via the underused Linkou line. Too bad thoughtful urban planning prevailed as the carriage views of the surrounding industrial estates would have been stunning.