TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei's iconic mountainside gondola system will temporarily suspend operations next week as part of a comprehensive annual safety overhaul, officials announced Wednesday (June 11). The Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (TRTC, 台北捷運公司), the municipal agency that manages the city's public transportation network, said the Maokong Gondola (貓空纜車), a popular tourist attraction offering dramatic views of Taiwan's capital, will cease operations from June 16 through June 30, with service scheduled to resume July 1.
Transit officials explained that the maintenance schedule includes a comprehensive array of critical safety and operational upgrades throughout the aerial transportation system. Technicians will perform cable trimming, conduct thorough equipment overhauls, and execute rigorous system testing protocols. The extensive maintenance checklist also encompasses restroom renovations, gearbox repairs, oil pipe maintenance, main motor servicing, cooling fan upgrades, and hydraulic control unit refurbishments. At the Taipei Zoo South Station (動物園南站), the system's main departure point, adjacent to one of the city's premier attractions, crews will remove accumulated rust and repaint tracks and steel support structures.
The Taipei City Public Transportation Office (台北市公共運輸處), the municipal agency overseeing citywide transit coordination, announced that complementary shuttle bus services to the mountainous Maokong area will also be affected during the maintenance period. Both the left and right lines of the Maokong shuttle bus will suspend operations from June 16 to 30, coinciding with the gondola closure. Transit officials have recommended several alternative routes for residents and tourists seeking to visit the tea houses and restaurants in the popular hillside destination, including bus routes designated as Brown 15, Small 10, Commuter 21, or the Maokong bus left line.
Transit officials emphasized that the temporary inconvenience is necessary to maintain the six-minute gondola ride's impeccable safety record since its 2007 inauguration, save for a brief closure following a 2008 typhoon. The comprehensive maintenance program reflects Taipei's commitment to infrastructure reliability in a city that prides itself on efficient public transportation. Visitors planning to explore Maokong's renowned tea plantations and panoramic city views during the latter half of June should adjust their itineraries accordingly and monitor the TRTC website for any changes to the maintenance timeline or resumption of service. ◼