TAIWAN: The 8∙2 km southern branch of Taipei’s Xinzhuang Line from Daqiaotou to Fu Jen University in New Taipei City was opened by Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin and New Taipei Mayor Eric Chu on January 5. 

Full revenue services are expected to begin in February, after a month of free rides for users of MRT’s Easy-Card tickets. 

Adding seven stations, the extension has taken 11 years to build; it takes the metro network to 114∙6 km. A further extension to Danfeng and Huilong has been delayed because of concerns about damage to a former leper hospital, now a historic site.