Taoyuan Green Line - Independent Verification and Validation

Challenge

In 2018, we were selected to provide Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) services on the newly commissioned 27km Taoyuan City Green Line on the Taoyuan MRT system in Taoyuan City, Taiwan. 

The Green Line is the largest ever urban system in Taiwan to request IV&V support.

The new driverless line, also known as the ‘Aerotropolis Line’, will link Taoyuan City to Taiwan’s international airport and connect to the major centres of Zhongli, Bade and Dasi that form an urban corridor with a combined population of almost 750,000 people.

The central section of the 21-station line will be underground with the remainder built on an elevated route.

Approach

Ricardo has played a significant role throughout the project to date, providing independent assessments of rolling stock, signalling, track, power supply, stations and maintenance depots, and will continue through to the route's planned opening in 2025. 

In addition, the team will assess safety standards for every aspect of the system’s construction.

Around 40 specialist Ricardo engineers and assessors supported the project's initial stages, with our Taipei-based team utilising technical support from colleagues in Asia and Europe whenever required.  

Results

The multi-discipline expertise spread across the team has brought valuable rigour to this major programme, helping our client to control the risks of cost overruns, project delays and technical complications. 

Our involvement maintains a long and successful history between Ricardo and the Taiwanese rail sector. The Taiwan team previously performed IV&V activities throughout the construction of the country's high-speed network between 2000 and 2007, as well as its subsequent extension to Nangang District. The team also performed the same role on the Taipei - Taoyuan Airport rail link, which opened in 2017.