Red line (Kaohsiung Metro)

In the “1988 Kaohsiung Metropolitan Metro System Feasibility Study”, the Red line was amongst the four lines planned. In January 1991, it was one of the two lines categorised to open as Phase 1 in period 1. Further progress was halted in March 1995 due to skepticism for the need of it within the city council, citing traffic congestion within the city to be not critical. In June 1998, the Executive board revived the plans under the BOT initiative. Together with the approval from relevant city councils, the metro department began conducting feasibility studies of the Red Line in February 1999. Three months later, priority was given to China Steel Corporation and Siemens on construction contracts. The contracts were finalised in January 2000.

On 24 October 2001, ground works were initiated at the Siaogang station site. The first phase from Siaogang station to Sanduo Shopping District station had its machinery and tunneling works completed in November 2006. Test riders were invited for operational trial for this milestone. By February 2008, most of the construction had been completed. At this stage, a soft opening was launched with free rides in the first phase. The entire line from Siaogang to Ciaotou stations opened on 9 March 2008, and was free to commuters until 7 April the same year.[note 1]

It opened for service on 9 March 2008 and was free for one month until 6 April.[1]