The Taipei Metro, commonly called the MRT, is the rapid transit network serving Taipei and New Taipei in Taiwan. It was the island's first modern metro system and has since become the backbone of urban travel in the capital region. The system links dense central districts with suburban corridors, handling large daily passenger flows and integrating with buses, commuter rail and airport services.

Network and infrastructure

The system comprises six principal routes and two branch lines, together covering more than 150 kilometres of revenue track and over a hundred stations (counting some transfers only once). Track alignment includes underground tunnels, elevated viaducts and at-grade sections, chosen to suit urban form and geography. Stations vary from compact local stops to major multimodal hubs with retail, ticketing concourses and access to regional rail and intercity services.

Operations, fares and service patterns

Trains run on a spoke-and-hub pattern: many lines radiate from central Taipei and converge at key transfer points. Typical service begins around 06:00 and ends as midnight approaches, with the last through-services completing their runs by about 01:00; frequencies depend on demand and can range from well under two minutes in peak core sections to longer intervals on outlying branches. A contactless stored-value card and single-journey tickets are used for fares, and the system is designed for frequent, reliable turn-up-and-go travel.

History and development

Conceived to relieve surface congestion and support rapid urban growth, construction of the metro began in the late 20th century and the network opened in stages during the mid-1990s and later. Expansion continued in phases to serve new suburbs and to connect with the Taoyuan Airport Express, which opened in 2017 to provide direct airport access. Ongoing projects periodically extend lines, add infill stations and upgrade signaling to increase capacity.

Passenger experience, rules and accessibility

The system enforces a smoke-free environment and prohibits eating and drinking on trains and in paid areas to keep stations clean and passenger comfort high. Stations are fitted with multilingual automated announcements — recorded in Mandarin, English, Taiwanese and Hakka — and many stops provide elevators, tactile paving and clear signage to assist passengers with mobility or sensory impairments. During major celebrations such as New Year, the operator runs extended services to handle exceptionally large crowds.

Uses, notable stations and connections

The network serves commuting, shopping, tourism and event travel. Transfer stations such as Taipei Main Station, Zhongxiao Fuxing and Minquan West Road are among the busiest because they concentrate interchanges and connect to regional rail or commercial districts. The system also links to the Taoyuan Airport Express for air travelers, and integrates with city buses and bicycle-sharing schemes to provide first-mile/last-mile options.

Key features at a glance

  • Coverage: Multiple radial lines with suburban branches.
  • Operation hours: Early morning to around midnight, extended for events.
  • Languages: Automated announcements in Mandarin, English, Taiwanese and Hakka.
  • Rules: No smoking; no eating or drinking in paid areas.
  • Interchanges: Major hubs connect to buses, regional trains and the airport link.

As an evolving urban transit system, the Taipei Metro continues to expand and adapt, balancing capacity upgrades with customer service improvements while remaining a central element of the Taipei metropolitan area's mobility network.