Danhai LRT
Danhai LRT trams at Binhai Shalun intersection, shot on January 7, 2026
Overview
Other names	Danhai Light Rail, Vermillion Line (the icon was with the letter "V")
Native name	淡海輕軌
Locale	New Taipei City, Taiwan
Termini	Hongshulin Kanding (Green Mountain Line) Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf (Blue Coast Line, until 2024) Tamsui (Blue Coast Line, after 2024)
Stations	14
Color on map	Vermilion
Service
Operator(s)	New Taipei Metro Co.
Depot(s)	Danhai Depot
Rolling stock	Danhai LRV[1][2]
History
Opened	23 December 2018 (2018-12-23)[3] 21 November 2020 (2020-11-21) (Blue Coast Line)[4] 2024 (Extension to Tamsui)
Technical
Line length	7.3 km (4.5 mi)
Character	Ground level, elevated
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC overhead line
Operating speed	70 km/h (43 mph) (with electric cable), 50 km/h (31 mph) (without electric cable)[1]
Route map Legend Tamsui–Xinyi line to Xiangshan Hongshulin V01 R27 Ganzhenlin V02 V21 Tamsui Danjin Denggong V03 V22 Mackay Street Tamkang University V04 V23 Fort Santo Domingo Danjin Beixin V05 V24 Hobe Fort Xinshi 1st Rd V06 V25 Youchekou Tamsui District Office V07 Bali light rail (under construction) V26 Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf Binhai Yishan V08 V27 Shalun Binhai Shalun V09 Linzi River V28 Taipei University of Marine Technology Danhai New Town V10 Kanding V11 Danhai depot Sanzhi light rail (under construction)

The Danhai light rail (traditional Chinese: 淡海輕軌; simplified Chinese: 淡海轻轨; pinyin: Dànhǎi Qīngguǐ, also known as Tamhai light rail) is a light rail transit (LRT) line in Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Taiwan, operated by New Taipei Metro. It opened on 23 December 2018 and began service the following day.^[3][5][6]

The system is built to provide public transportation to Danhai New Town, whose population is expected to reach 340,000 by 2041.^[7]

The initial feasibility study for a heavy-capacity extension line of the Taipei Metro was completed in 1992. Further planning reports were completed in 1998 and 1999. At that time the project was put on hold due to budgetary considerations. In 2005, planning shifted from a metro system to a light rail system. A light rail feasibility study was completed in 2007, with a review of funding and operation throughout 2008. The study was completed and presented for approval to the Executive Yuan in 2010.^[8]

The light rail two-stage construction plan by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications was approved by Council for Economic Planning and Development on 7 January 2013.^[9] The first phase of the construction began in September 2014.^[10]

The system is projected to carry 120,000 passengers per day.^[11]

The system currently consists of 14 stations, with 6 additional stations planned.^[12]. Tracks are at ground level and elevated. The total length will be 13.99 kilometres (8.69 mi).^[7]

The Hongshulin–Kanding section opened in December 2018.^[3] Trains run from Hongshulin Station northward and turn west along Zhongzheng East Road, Highway No. 2, Binhai Road and Shalun Road.^[12][13] Seven of its eleven stations are elevated, with the remaining four at ground level.^[14] The bike sharing service YouBike is available at seven stations.^[15][16]

A two-kilometre (1.2 mi) branch with three stations opened in November 2020.^[17] The branch runs from Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf, turns eastward to join the Kanding branch,^[12] with which it shares 1.21 kilometres (0.75 mi) and three stops.^[13] The line follows Highway No. 2B, Binhai Road, and Shalun Road.^[10] All nine stations will be at ground level.^[14]

Code	Station name	Station type		Locale		Sta. distance (km)		Opened date	Transfer
		Structure	Platform			Previous	Total
Danhai light rail Green Mountain line (Hongshulin—Binhai Shalun—Kanding)
V01	Hongshulin 紅樹林	Elevated	Island	Tamsui	New Taipei	—N/a	0.000	2018-12-24	Tamsui–Xinyi line
V02	Ganzhenlin 竿蓁林		Side			0.840	0.840		—N/a
V03	Danjin Denggong 淡金鄧公					0.945	1.785
V04	Tamkang University 淡江大學					0.960	2.745
V05	Danjin Beixin 淡金北新					0.600	3.345
V06	Xinshi 1st Rd 新市一路					0.505	3.850
V07	Tamsui District Office 淡水行政中心					0.705	4.555
V08	Binhai Yishan 濱海義山	Ground	Island			0.870	5.425
V09	Binhai Shalun 濱海沙崙					0.560	5.985		For Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf
V10	Danhai New Town 淡海新市鎮					0.795	6.780		—N/a
V11	Kanding 崁頂					0.500	7.280
Danhai light rail Blue Coast line (Binhai Shalun—Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf—Tamsui)
V09	Binhai Shalun 濱海沙崙	Ground	Island	Tamsui	New Taipei	—N/a	0.000	2018-12-24	For Kanding
V28	Taipei University of Marine Technology 臺北海洋大學		Side			0.530	0.530	2020-11-15	—N/a
V27	Shalun 沙崙		Island			1.125	1.655
V26	Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf 淡水漁人碼頭					0.705	2.360
V25	Unreleased		Unreleased			Unreleased		Planning
V24
V23
V22
V21	Tamsui 淡水								Tamsui–Xinyi line
Reference: [18]: 7–5

The cars were built in Taiwan by the Taiwan Rolling Stock Company^[13] under the first program to domestically build light rail vehicles. The company partnered with the German firm Voith Engineering Services on the design of the cars. Final assembly and the manufacturing of many components were done in Taiwan. Through this project, Taiwan seeks to lessen its dependence on foreign manufacturers for rail systems.^[19]

Each of the 15 bi-directional standard gauge trams is 34.5 metres (113 ft) long and can carry up to 265 passengers. They are designed with electrical onboard storage capacity so that they can travel short distances under their power; this feature allows simplification of the overhead power cabling by eliminating the need to run the power cables across major intersections.^[20] The prototype was scheduled to be ready in 2016,^[7] with all 15 cars to be delivered by the end of 2017.^[21][22]

The light rail was expected to cost NT$15.31 billion, in which NT$1.67 billion will be provided by the central government, NT$7.09 billion by Construction and Planning Agency and NT$6.55 billion by New Taipei City Government when it was approved in 2013.^[12] The current estimate is NT$31.357 billion.^[7]

The project is divided into two phases. The first phase is the 11-station Green Mountain Line and part of the Blue Coast Line comprising three stations, totaling 9.7 kilometres (6.0 mi) and the depot. The whole first phase costs NT$12.8 billion. Work began in September 2014 and as of May 2016 is approximately one-third complete. With the opening of the Green Mountain Line, the first phase of the Danhai light rail is almost completed. The other three stations along the Blue Coast Line will be completed later.^[13]

The second phase completes the remaining 4.4 kilometres (2.7 mi) and six more stations of the Blue Coast Line.^[12] Its planned completion is in 2024.^[7]

The line is being developed by China Steel Corporation and subsidiaries United Steel Engineering & Construction Corporation and Taiwan Rolling Stock Company.^[7] Other contractors are Thales Rail Signalling Solutions for signalling, communications, and control equipment^[23], CTCI Corporation for track work, Pandrol for track, maintenance, and safety equipment, TÜV Rheinland for testing, and ABB for electrical equipment.^[7]

The Danjiang Bridge over the mouth of the Tamsui River on the Taiwan strait is under construction to accommodate an extension of the Danhai LRT over the river to connect the town of Bali.^[24]

• Rail transport in Taiwan
• List of railway stations in Taiwan
• Ankeng light rail
• Circular light rail
• Sanying line