New Taipei's Sanying Line Opens, Sparking Crowding Fears on Taipei's Bannan Line

New Taipei City's Sanying Line is set to commence trial operations on June 30, linking with the existing Bannan Line at its northern terminus, Dingpu Station. This expansion is expected to significantly increase passenger flow, with Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (TRTC) forecasting an additional 1,500 transfers during weekday mornings.

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The Bannan Line is already very crowded, and the frequency during peak hours is already very high. You can't just add more trains whenever you want.

In response, TRTC is implementing optimizations to its Bannan Line train fleet. The primary modification involves removing the central pillars at train doors to enhance passenger standing space and improve boarding and alighting efficiency. TRTC reports that nearly half of its fleet has already undergone this "space optimization," with the goal of completing the entire fleet by year's end. Each optimized train is projected to accommodate an additional 72 passengers, potentially increasing overall capacity by nearly 3,000 people.

However, the impending increase in passenger numbers has sparked concerns among local officials and residents. City councilor candidate Chang Ming-yu voiced worries that the Bannan Line, already notoriously crowded, will face even greater pressure. He specifically highlighted the potential for severe overcrowding at Longshan Temple Station, a key point where the Bannan Line enters Taipei City. Chang urged city officials not to ignore these potential issues and to prepare comprehensive solutions.

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Will Longshan Temple Station become even harder to board? Will residents have to wait for another train? This is not a small matter.

Chang emphasized that simply removing seats and door pillars to increase capacity is insufficient and potentially detrimental. He argued that such modifications could compromise safety and accessibility for vulnerable passengers, including the elderly, pregnant women, and those with children. He called for a holistic approach, including better crowd management on platforms, real-time crowding information, more precise scheduling of additional trains, and improved integration with other transport modes like the Taiwan Railways Administration and bus services to distribute passenger load.

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Space optimization cannot just be about removing some seats and door pillars and saying you can fit more people. The MRT is not just for young and strong people; there are also the elderly, pregnant women, visually impaired friends, and parents with children.