TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei Metro (台北捷運) has launched a significant infrastructure upgrade to combat congestion at its busiest transit hubs. Officials announced Tuesday (April 1)that the transit authority has begun increasing speeds on 47 upward-moving escalators at high-traffic locations, including the bustling Taipei Main Station (台北車站) and Taipei City Hall (市政府站). The initiative represents a strategic effort to enhance passenger flow and reduce platform crowding by accelerating the movement of commuters during peak travel periods.
The transit authority is increasing escalator speeds from 0.5 meters per second to 0.65 meters per second, a 30 percent acceleration that promises to reshape commuter experiences. According to Taipei Metro calculations, each modified escalator will transport approximately 22 additional passengers per minute during rush hours, substantially increasing system capacity. Safety remains paramount, with officials installing prominent notices at all 47 upgraded escalators instructing riders to maintain a firm stance and grip handrails securely. Unlike systems that reserve one side for walking, Taipei Metro confirms passengers may stand on either side of these faster-moving conveyances.
Accompanying the speed enhancement is a comprehensive safety campaign. Transit officials strongly discourage mobile phone use while riding escalators, citing distraction-related fall risks. Certain passengers — including those with children, individuals carrying bulky items, travelers feeling unwell, and elderly riders — are directed to use elevators instead. The current expansion follows successful trials conducted since 2017, when Taipei Metro first tested accelerated escalators at 11 locations, including the heavily trafficked Zhongxiao Fuxing Station (忠孝復興站) transfer hub. Even with the upgrades, Taipei's system remains more conservative than international counterparts—Singapore and Hong Kong metro escalators operate at speeds reaching 0.75 meters per second, still faster than Taipei's newly adjusted rate.
