Danhai Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project Profile

The Danhai Light Rail Transit (LRT) is a critical infrastructure project in New Taipei City, Taiwan, designed to serve the expanding Danhai New Township. This multi-phase development integrates advanced catenary-free rolling stock with a hybrid at-grade and elevated track system, setting a new benchmark for sustainable urban mobility in the region. The project showcases successful collaboration between domestic manufacturing and international technology suppliers to meet future transport demand.

Technical Specifications

The Danhai LRT’s infrastructure is a blend of at-grade (5.2km) and elevated (4.5km) sections, designed to minimize urban disruption while ensuring efficient transit. The track infrastructure utilizes Pandrol’s QTrack embedded track system, chosen for its durability and noise reduction qualities in urban settings. This system supports a network of 20 stations across the Green Mountain and Blue Seaside lines.

A key technological feature is the fleet of 15 bi-directional trams, domestically manufactured by Taiwan Rolling Stock Company (TRSC) with design and engineering support from Voith. Each 34.5-meter, low-floor vehicle is equipped with an ABB Compact Converter BORDLINE® CC400, which includes an onboard energy storage system. This allows for extended catenary-free operation, preserving the city’s aesthetic by removing the need for extensive overhead power lines.

Operations are managed through a centralized control center using systems provided by Thales. The integrated solution covers signaling, telecommunications, and real-time operational control, ensuring high levels of safety and service reliability across the entire network. Independent verification and validation for all subsystems were conducted by TÜV Rheinland to meet stringent international safety standards.

Key Takeaways

• Catenary-Free Innovation: The project’s use of trams with onboard energy storage for catenary-free operation is a significant technical achievement, offering a blueprint for aesthetically pleasing and flexible urban rail systems.
• Domestic Manufacturing Advancement: By pairing local giant China Steel Corporation and its subsidiary TRSC with international specialists like Voith, the project successfully enhanced Taiwan’s domestic rail manufacturing and system integration capabilities.
• Effective Phased Implementation: The strategic division of the project into manageable phases allowed for budget control, risk mitigation, and the early delivery of core transit services to the public while construction on subsequent sections continued.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When will the Danhai LRT be fully completed?

The first phase of the Danhai LRT, which includes 11 stations on the Green Mountain Line and 3 on the Blue Seaside Line, is already operational. Phase 2, which will complete the Blue Seaside Line, is scheduled for completion in 2025, making the entire 13.99 km network fully operational.

Who is building the Danhai LRT?

The Danhai LRT project is led by a consortium headed by Taiwan’s China Steel Corporation (CSC). Key technology and components are provided by a team of international and local experts, including Taiwan Rolling Stock Company (TRSC) for the trams, Thales for signaling and control systems, ABB for the onboard energy storage, and Pandrol for the track systems.