Taipei Metro Culture Shock

459 Views 15 Replies 9 Participants Last post by ignoramus, Jun 30, 2006

ignoramus

Discussion Starter · Apr 30, 2006

1. The toilets are very clean. (Singapore's aren't that clean by your standards)
2. The toilets are located in the paid areas. (Singapore's are located in the unpaid area which is pretty dumb because they don't serve the passengers but instead serve people who might not even be intending to travel on the train)
3. There are trash bins inside the stations which is actually good for me. (Singapore doesn't because of potential security threats. Ain't Taipei Metro worried?)
4. People queue up before boarding trains and stand to the right of escalators. (Was there a public campaign in the late 1990s asking people to stand on the right or is it human nature?). I know this is common subway etiquette but Singaporeans just don't usually do it.
5. People are more vocal about asking you to stop chewing gum on the train. Is this an isolated incident or is it commonplace? My ignorance is to blame totally.

Some train related questions.
1. Seems like a couple of rolling stock is in use. Some have doors opening on this side lights, some have LED displays on the Danshui Line, some have route maps inside the trains and I even saw a Siemens train that was made in 2003. Didn't know the trains were that new since the Metro was around for quite some time already.
2. Nice doors closing buzzer. It serves its purpose well. Cute in a way.
3. Anyone has train announcements audio files on the internet? I like the way they pronounce the station names.

Just some questions after my visit to Taipei about a week ago. Its just a huge contrast to what I am used to here, the travelling experience that is. No offence to the Taiwanese or Singaporeans intended.

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1 - 16 of 16 Posts

Pangu

· #2 · Apr 30, 2006

ignoramus said:
1. The toilets are very clean. (Singapore's aren't that clean by your standards)

I'm surprised! I've always thought Singapore was extremely clean and had very strict rules about it.

ignoramus said:
4. People queue up before boarding trains and stand to the right of escalators. (Was there a public campaign in the late 1990s asking people to stand on the right or is it human nature?). I know this is common subway etiquette but Singaporeans just don't usually do it.

Yeah, I was truly surprised when I saw this when I went back to Taiwan in 2004. The last time I went back to Taiwan, which was in 1997, I didn't recall seeing this, at least not in such a consistant manner.

I was really proud of Taiwan regarding this as even in the U.S., you'd often see rude people who would stand right in the middle of the escalators and block people who are in a hurry or sometimes two friends would stand side-by-side chatting away while blocking the whole traffic...

ignoramus said:
5. People are more vocal about asking you to stop chewing gum on the train. Is this an isolated incident or is it commonplace? My ignorance is to blame totally.

I've never encountered this, but then I don't chew gum. But this is good news for me as I hate gum and have stepped on them one too many time simply because the chewer was too lazy to throw it away properly here in the U.S. I also get annoyed when people "pop" their gum. This is the reason why I've always liked Singapore for its strict rules against gum

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superchan7

· #3 · May 1, 2006

Standing to one side on escalators is unheard of in the US. From observation, none of the demographic or age sectors show any significant intention to follow this suggestion.

DonQui

· #4 · May 1, 2006

superchan7 said:
Standing to one side on escalators is unheard of in the US. From observation, none of the demographic or age sectors show any significant intention to follow this suggestion.

You try to not stand on one side of the escalator in New York and you see what happens.

superchan7

· #5 · May 1, 2006

It could be that in a city such as NY it is more observable. I always do so, but when I desire to walk up or down the escalator I always encounter obstruction.

Except when it's empty.

Isan

· #6 · May 1, 2006

Singapore Public Toilet or estate are really stumble

Same in Taipei's Park too

Isan

· #7 · May 1, 2006

ignoramus said:
Anyone has train announcements audio files on the internet? I like the way they pronounce the station names.

Don't have but would be found some info @ below

Mass Transit

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tr

· #8 · May 1, 2006

1.The system uses a combination of Siemens and Hitachi rolling stock .... thus interior designs differ according to model year and manufacturer.

2. Not long after the launch a program was developed to educate the public on how to use the MRT. The program included TRTC staff instructing passengers to stand on the right-side of the escalators.

3. The citizens of Taipei take great pride in the MRT. It is one of the few places where people will actually speak their mind to defend the public good. Unlike buses or other forms of public transit, MRT ridership includes people from every socio-economic group.

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ignoramus

Discussion Starter · #9 · May 1, 2006

tr said:
1.The system uses a combination of Siemens and Hitachi rolling stock .... thus interior designs differ according to model year and manufacturer.

2. Not long after the launch a program was developed to educate the public on how to use the MRT. The program included TRTC staff instructing passengers to stand on the right-side of the escalators.

3. The citizens of Taipei take great pride in the MRT. It is one of the few places where people will actually speak their mind to defend the public good. Unlike buses or other forms of public transit, MRT ridership includes people from every socio-economic group.

I really enjoyed my trips on the Taipei Metro, clean, trains come frequently, cheap I suppose and plasma displays show train arrival times to the second. The announcements are cute and inside the trains its pretty quiet. Though stations could have been better linked to surrounding buildings by means of cover linkways and I did have some trouble reading from the display how much value I had in my easycard. Very dim. Plus I had trouble with the tripod gates. Other than that, it was a really great experience. Good work Taipei!

I saw what appears to be smart card readers on buses in Kaohsiung, do those accept easycards? Or is there a smart card system for Kaohsiung I don't know about...

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laikuanchi

· #10 · May 1, 2006

ignoramus said:
I really enjoyed my trips on the Taipei Metro, clean, trains come frequently, cheap I suppose and plasma displays show train arrival times to the second. The announcements are cute and inside the trains its pretty quiet. Though stations could have been better linked to surrounding buildings by means of cover linkways and I did have some trouble reading from the display how much value I had in my easycard. Very dim. Plus I had trouble with the tripod gates. Other than that, it was a really great experience. Good work Taipei!

I saw what appears to be smart card readers on buses in Kaohsiung, do those accept easycards? Or is there a smart card system for Kaohsiung I don't know about...

They are working on getting new gates, so no tripod in the future.
As of now, the smart card systems in Taipei and Kaohsiung are different. However, the central government is working on the integration of every smart card systems including Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and other cities, and HSR, also TRA.

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ignoramus

Discussion Starter · #11 · May 2, 2006

laikuanchi said:
They are working on getting new gates, so no tripod in the future.
As of now, the smart card systems in Taipei and Kaohsiung are different. However, the central government is working on the integration of every smart card systems including Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and other cities, and HSR, also TRA.

Is the smart card system for Kaohsiung launched already? Didn't see anyone using it. I suppose it will be launched together with the Kaohsiung Metro.

The fare gates for the TRA look japanese.

Another shocker for me, the buses have tvs and LEDs and flashing lights and buzzers that alert you if the bus is turning or stopping soon. (I didnt mean it in a negative way but its something different!)

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C-Kompii

· #12 · May 2, 2006

ignoramus said:
4. People queue up before boarding trains and stand to the right of escalators. (Was there a public campaign in the late 1990s asking people to stand on the right or is it human nature?). I know this is common subway etiquette but Singaporeans just don't usually do it.
5. People are more vocal about asking you to stop chewing gum on the train. Is this an isolated incident or is it commonplace? My ignorance is to blame totally.

Glad you enjoyed your ride on the Taipei MRT. Standing to the right of corridors or stairs is something taught since primary school, and the MRT is a perfect example of people actually obeying this etiquette. You could also find people standing to the right of escalators in shopping centers.

Chewing gums or drinking on the MRT is actually prohibited and you could be fined if caught, although they will most likely give you a warning. You can still bring your drink on the ride of course, just as long as you don't consume it. Food on the other hand, is only permitted in designated area.

-G'day-

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Pangu

· #13 · May 2, 2006

C-Kompii said:
Glad you enjoyed your ride on the Taipei MRT. Standing to the right of corridors or stairs is something taught since primary school, and the MRT is a perfect example of people actually obeying this etiquette. You could also find people standing to the right of escalators in shopping centers.

Yeah, I remember when I was in elementary school in Taiwan, we were taught to walk/stand to the right. Actually we were taught that since kindergarden.

However, growing up in Taiwan, I don't remember seeing adults practice it often in public places, not until I went back to Taiwan in 2004 at least. Even when during the trip before that in 1997, I still didn't have any impression that people obeyed the rules of standing to the right as religously as they do today.

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thyrdrail

· #14 · May 10, 2006

ignoramus said:
3. There are trash bins inside the stations which is actually good for me. (Singapore doesn't because of potential security threats. Ain't Taipei Metro worried?)

Taiwan doesn't have a history of terrorism or enemies besides China. And there's not many Muslims there either.

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tr

· #15 · Jun 29, 2006

ignoramus said:
Some train related questions.
1. Seems like a couple of rolling stock is in use. Some have doors opening on this side lights, some have LED displays on the Danshui Line, some have route maps inside the trains and I even saw a Siemens train that was made in 2003. Didn't know the trains were that new since the Metro was around for quite some time already.
2. Nice doors closing buzzer. It serves its purpose well. Cute in a way.
3. Anyone has train announcements audio files on the internet? I like the way they pronounce the station names.

sound files..... sorry no station announcements
http://train0977.myweb.hinet.net/sound.htm

data on train types etc...
http://train0977.myweb.hinet.net/index.htm

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ignoramus

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jun 30, 2006

THANKS!!! I love travelling around by MRT in Taipei!

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