Circular line (New Taipei Metro). The Circular or Yellow line (code Y) () is a metro line in New Taipei City, part of the New Taipei Metro, which was previously a line of the Taipei Metro. Currently the line runs between  and , it is approximately  long with 14 stations. This initial section was opened on 31 January 2020. Hitachi Rail Italy supplied 17 sets of 4-car driverless medium-capacity trains for the line. Extensions to the north and south are currently under construction.

Construction 
Hitachi Rail STS supplied electromechanical equipment for the line, including driverless technology and CBTC signaling. , currently the only underground station on the line, was constructed by RSEA Engineering Corporation and employed the cut-and-cover method.

Construction for the first phase officially broke ground on 11 July 2011 on a  elevated section between Zhonghe and Banqiao. The section is estimated to cost NT$13.7 billion, with the entire first-stage  route estimated to cost NT$54.7 billion to construct.

The line includes the first elevated split platforms in the system at , , and  due to the narrowness of the available station area.

The initial section between  and  opened on 31 January 2020. On 5 May 2023, the Circular line has been transferred from the Taipei Metro to the New Taipei Metro, with the fare structure still integrated with Taipei Metro system, unlike light rail lines of New Taipei Metro.

Public art 
Unlike previous public art installations on the metro, it was decided that a smaller number of art pieces would be installed within the same budget, allowing for large-scale artwork.

Across the above ground section of the line, Emmanuelle Moureaux (a Tokyo based French architect and designer) spread distinctive bold colours across infrastructure – including steel beams and pillars, noise barriers, 13 stations and platforms, a bridge over the Tamsui River, and the exterior and interior design of the train.

The platforms, walls and ceilings of Banqiao station are decorated by French artist Daniel Buren, using regular, contrasting coloured stripes.

Stations in operation 
The western section of the line officially opened on 31 January 2020.

Services between Zhonghe and Banqiao were temporarily suspended from 3 April 2024 onwards due to the 2024 Hualien earthquake, with the repair work expected to take one year to complete. The section reopened earlier than estimated on 12 December 2024 at 12:00 PM Taiwan Standard Time.

Stations under construction
The north and south sections are approved for construction, which is currently underway. The estimated completion date for those sections is 2029.

South section 
Stations Y01–06 are approved for construction. (Unopened stations' names are to be confirmed)

North section 
Stations Y21–32 are approved for construction. (Unopened stations' names are to be confirmed)

Planned stations
The east section is still under planning and subject to change. After this section is complete, the Circular line will form a circle.

East section 
(Unopened stations' names are to be confirmed)

See also 
 Rail transport in Taiwan

Notes

References 

Taipei Metro lines
New Taipei Metro
Standard gauge railways in Taiwan
Railway lines opened in 2020
Circular line (New Taipei Metro)