New Taipei City pushes 'Four Ring Eight Line' metro expansion

Deputy mayor Liu He‑ran told the 2026 SDGs Sustainable City Forum that New Taipei’s metro network will evolve from the current “three rings, six lines” to a “four rings, eight lines” system, linking Taipei, Taoyuan and the broader northern region. The plan includes four core development zones – the Xinban Special Zone, a second administrative centre in Sanchong, the Xinzhang Wenziqun redevelopment area, and the New Taipei Grand Arena – aimed at reshaping the city’s layout after 2030. Liu said the goal is to have 180 stations by 2035, averaging 4.5 stations per 100,000 residents, to provide low‑carbon, high‑capacity public transport.

Mayor Hou You‑yi highlighted that in the past eight years the network has added 40 km of track and 38 stations, with daily ridership rising 13‑fold to over 120,000 passengers. The newly opened San‑Ying line recorded 980,000 boardings in its first month, spurring a 20‑30% increase in foot traffic to local commercial districts. Hou outlined future extensions, including lines to Taoyuan’s Bade district, the Taishan‑Banqiao light rail, and connections to the high‑speed rail and airport MRT, all integrated into the “Four Ring Eight Line” blueprint.