Taichung The First Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Route in Taiwan Is Scheduled for Trial Run

Taipei, July 26 (CNA) President Ma Ying-Jeou and Taichung Mayor Jason Hu took a ride on the central city's new bus-based mass rapid transit line Saturday, on the eve of the opening of its year-long free service.

After riding a 3.5-kilometer stretch of the bus rapid transit (BRT) route along Taiwan Boulevard, Ma gave Hu the thumbs up for planning a public transport system that he said is as good as a subway.

Of course, many people said that the achievement is for the upcoming election. Should the Blue Line (along the central and very busy Taichung Harbor road) be the first line? No, someone said it's not worth it. I used to live in Taichung and hated that there is too much traffic in this city although the weather was nice. Basically, I am afraid that the system is dangerous. But most important of all we can benefit greatly by year-long free service if we travel in Taichung.

The priority section of Blue Line, with half of the stations open, started operation on 28 July 2014, and all stations along the section will be open on 17 August 2014.

BRT Blue Line (藍線)
Station Number	Station Name (Chinese)	Station Name (English)	Location	Remark
A01	臺中火車站	Taichung Railway Station	In front of Taichung Railway Station (Jianguo Rd.) (建國路)	open
A02	彰化銀行 (僅東行)	Chang Hwa Bank (only eastward)	Ziyou Rd. (自由路) Intersection	not yet built
A03	仁愛醫院 (僅西行)	Jen-ai Hospital (only westward)	Liuchuan E. Rd. (柳川東路) Intersection	under construction
A05	茄苳腳	Jia Dong Jiao	Meichuan W. Rd. (梅川西路)/Duxin St. (篤信街) Intersection	under construction
A06	中正國小	Chung-Cheng Elementary School	Daren St. (大仁街)/Yingcai Rd. (英才路) Intersection	open westward, eastward under construction
A07	科博館	National Museum of Natural Science	Jianxing Rd. (健行路) Intersection	under construction
A08	忠明國小	Chung-Ming Elementary School	Zhongming Rd. (忠明路) Intersection	under construction
A09	頂何厝	Ding He Cuo	Hankou Rd. (漢口路)/Dongxing Rd. (東興路) Intersection	under construction
A10	市政府	Taichung City Hall	Wenxin Rd. (文心路) Intersection	open
A11	新光/遠百	Shin Kong Mitsukoshi/Top City Dept. Store	Huilai Rd. (惠來路) Intersection	under construction
A12	秋紅谷	Maple Valley Garden	Chaofu Rd. (朝富路) Intersection	open
A13	福安	Fu-An	Anhe Rd. (安和路) Intersection	under construction
A14	中港新城	Zhonggang New Community	Zhonggong Third Rd. (中工三路) Intersection	under construction
A15	中港澄清	Cheng Ching Hospital	Fukang Rd. (福康路)/Zhonggong Second Rd. (中工二路) Intersection	under construction
A16	玉門路	Yumen Rd.	Yumen Rd. (玉門路) Intersection	under construction
A17	榮總/東海大學	Taichung Veterans General Hospital/Tunghai University	Dongda Rd. (東大路) Intersection	open
A18	東海別墅	Dong Hai Bie Shu Shopping District	Guoji St. (國際街)/Dongyuan Ln. (東園巷) Intersection	open
A19	坪頂	Pingding	Youyuan Rd. (遊園路) Intersection	open
A20	正英路	Zhengying Rd.	Pipalun Rd. (枇杷崙路) Intersection	open
A21	弘光科技大學	Hungkuang University	In front of Hungkuang University	open
A22	晉江寮	Jin Jiang Liao	Dongjin E. Rd. (東晉東路) Intersection	open
A23	靜宜大學	Providence University	In front of Providence University	open

Now it seemed that we can visit Tunghai University. The scenic spots in Tunghai University include the Luce Memorial Chapel (Chinese: 路思義教堂) which is a Christian chapel on the campus of Tunghai University in Taichung, Taiwan and was first conceived as a multi-planar, wooden structure, but the architects soon abandoned the idea of using wood due both to the humid environment and to seismic concerns.

If you live in Hong Kong, you can consider booking a flight on Hong Kong Express to Taichung. Or you can transfer to Hong Kong and then visit Taichung. In the future you can get to Taichung Main Station on the Orange Line from Taichung Airport commonly known as Taichung Ching Chuan Kang Airport. It’s a long wait. Have fun in Taichung.

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About 工作達人

Hi, I'm Stephen Liu! A Taiwanese couchsurfer, backpacker, food lover and postcrosser. My wife and I challenged ourself to visit all the counties and cities in Taiwan! Read more here.

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