TAIPEI: Public transport operators across Taiwan reported unprecedented ridership numbers on New Year's Eve, as celebrations drew hundreds of thousands of revelers on Tuesday. The surge in public transport use was attributed to various events, including concerts and fireworks displays.
According to Focus Taiwan, New Taipei Metro Corp. announced that the Danhai light rail system saw a record single-day high of over 36,000 passengers. Many traveled to the Tamsui and Bali districts for afternoon activities or to witness a 13-minute-and-14-second fireworks display that began at 8:25 p.m. The city's police department noted that it took approximately 30 minutes for the crowds at Fisherman's Wharf, the site of a main stage, to disperse via light rail services or shuttle buses.
Meanwhile, Taoyuan Metro Corp. and Taichung Mass Rapid Transit Corp. also reported record ridership on their metro lines. The Taoyuan Airport MRT Line, which features 22 stations and opened in 2017, recorded 195,603 passengers within a 24-hour window starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday. This spike was driven by a countdown party near the high-speed rail station and a concert by the popular rock band Mayday. Similarly, the 18-station Taichung Metro Green Line, operational since 2021, saw 67,690 passengers between 6 a.m. Tuesday and 2 a.m. Wednesday, achieving its highest monthly ridership in December.
State-run Taiwan Railway Corp. reported a New Year's Eve record of 196,000 passengers nationwide utilizing its 24 extra services on Tuesday. Additionally, more than 10,000 passengers took advantage of extra services in eastern Taiwan, setting another record for the operator.
In Taipei, the capital city, Taipei Rapid Transit Corp. disclosed that the metro network's total ridership reached 3.1 million in the 24 hours starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday. This was largely due to approximately 220,000 people attending the Taipei 101 fireworks display and 40,000 attending pop star A-Mei's concert at Taipei Dome. This figure was second only to the 3.2 million passengers reported on New Year's Day in 2020.