Rides on Taipei MRT Red Line extension to be free Aug. 30-Sept. 28

Taipei, Aug. 21 (CNA) Rides on Taipei Metro's new Red Line extension between Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station and Xiangshan Station will be free between Aug. 30 and Sept. 28, Taipei Rapid Transit Corp. (TRTC) said Thursday.

Fares will still apply on all other sections of the Taipei Metro. For passengers whose journeys begin or end at the Red Line's new terminus at Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station, the distance between the new station and Xiangshan Station will be excluded from the fare calculation, TRTC said in a news release.

Discounted rides will still count toward the Taipei Metro's frequent rider program, which provides increasing fare rebates based on the number of trips taken, but not free trips.

Passengers traveling only between Guangci/Fengtian Temple and Xiangshan stations can obtain a special entry credential at the station's information counter to enter and exit without paying a fare, TRTC said.

To celebrate the station's opening, TRTC will also hold a capsule toy draw from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2, offering prizes including round-trip tickets for two to London or Tokyo and a Megacity Pass worth NT$1,200 (US$37.67).

Passengers who begin or end their journey at Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station and pay using any method other than a single-journey token will be eligible to participate based on their travel records, the company said.

The capsule toy machine will be located at Exit 2 of Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station. Each passenger may participate once per day, with 600 capsules available daily.

The machine will be open from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 30, and from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. daily from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. It may close earlier than scheduled if all capsules have been claimed, TRTC said.

Eligible passengers can also enter a separate prize drawing offering annual MRT passes, metro credit and bicycles, the company added.

In addition, TRTC will distribute 500 Fami!ce gift cards each day at the information counter on the station's B2 level, limited to one card per person per day.

To mark the opening, the company will also host concerts at the station on Saturday afternoons from Aug. 30 through Sept. 19.

Construction of the new Guangci/Fengtian Temple station began in 2016, extending the Red Line 1.4 kilometers beneath Section 6 of Xinyi Road, connecting the Xiangshan and Hushan areas.

The Taipei MRT Red Line, also known as the Tamsui-Xinyi Line, currently runs 29 km, with 28 stations from Tamsui in New Taipei on the northwest end to Xiangshan in southeast Taipei.