TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei's Wenhu line (Brown line) will extend its peak time by an hour and install additional seats to alleviate congestion during commutes starting on Saturday (Feb. 18).
Neihu District's traffic has long been a persistent issue for commuters and residents. In response, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wa-an has introduced new plans to mitigate traffic.
The Brown line's peak time will now be extended by an additional hour, and luggage racks will be removed while seats are changed to accommodate more passengers.
The move is expected to increase passenger capacity by up to 1,000 individuals.
Still, both Kuomintang Party (KMT) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) councilors in Taipei City argue that these plans are merely "superficial" and do not address the underlying problem.
KMT councilor Lee Ming-hsien pointed out that "the comfort and safety of the MRT must be taken into account" and that a "mid-to-long-term solution" should be proposed.
DPP councilor Ho Meng-Hua highlighted the need to review and improve Neihu's other commuting and connecting systems.