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The city of Kaohsiung lies in the south of Taiwan and has 1.3 million inhabitants.

Construction contracts for a network of 2 lines (one north-south and one east-west, 42.7 km) were awarded to a consortium led by China Steel and other local companies and Siemens in May 2000 to enter service in 2005. The first two lines are operated by Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation (KRTC). Trains for these two lines have been delivered from Siemens.

- 32 km, 25 stations between Gangshan and Ciaotou in the north and Kaohsiung Airport and Siaogang in the south. 15 stations are underground.

09 Mar 2008: Red Line officially opened (trial service) - Ciaotou Station - Siaogang
23 Dec 2012: Ciaotou - Gangshan South (since 2024 Kaohsiung Medical University Gangshan Hospital) (2.3 km)
30 June 2024: Kaohsiung Medical University Gangshan Hospital - Gangshan Railway Station (1.5 km)

- 14.4 km, 14 stations between National Sun Yat-sen University in the west and Daliao in the east. All the stations are underground except for the ground level Daliao station, the line's eastern terminus.

14 Sept 2008: Sizihwan (since 2024 Hamasen) - Daliao

 LIGHT RAIL

A circular light rail line (at grade with level crossings) serves the central area (19.6 km with 32 stops):

Trial service from C1 Lizihnei to C4 Kaisyuan Jhonghua began on 16 Oct 2015, and the full circle was completed on 1 Jan 2024 - Click here for our Kaohsiung tram page with more photos!

Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation (KRTC - Official Website)

Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit Project

Light Rail Project

Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit at Wikipedia

Kaohsiung Underground Railway Project

In January 2019, Craig Moore reports from Kaoshiung:

Given the cultural, political and economic dominance of Taipei, Taiwan’s second city, Kaohsiung, is not widely known outside of the region, despite having a metropolitan population of 2.8mil. Located on the southwest plain, the city has an interesting ethic mix, a warm, sunny climate, and some attractive post-industrial regeneration areas. Part of this regeneration has been supported by recent urban rail developments, with Kaohsiung now boasting an impressive multi-modal network of Metro, Tram and Suburban Rail.

MRT
Kaohsiung’s MRT began operations in 2008 and is a two line system of 41.8km (revenue Km). Although structured in a typical ‘+’ type arrangement, the geography of the city, with the centre radiating from the port, means the lines are somewhat unbalanced, with the southern and western legs being shorter, and thus the interchange station of Formosa Boulevard, is located in the southwest of the system. The Red Line (R) (28.7km/17.6km UG-24 stations) runs from Siaogang in the southeast, past the airport and under Jhong Shan through the centre of the city (Central Park-Kaohsiung Main Station). Continuing northeast under Bo Ai Road, the line becomes elevated after Zuoying where transfer is provided to TRA and THSR services. The viaduct meanders through less dense areas to Gangshan Nan. This is the busiest line on the system ...

Click here to download the full report in PDF!