The 3-year-old Maokong Gondola will be overhauled between May 2nd (Wed.) and June 1st (Fri.) 2012, in order to accommodate the incoming summer vacation crowds. The Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (TRTC) will conduct the overhaul according to regulations of the French lift-maker POMA and resume gondola services on June 2nd (Sat.). The expiry date of the “Returning Visitor Free Ride Ticket”, given out during the first month of the launch of the online gondola reservation system, will be extended from June 30th to July 31st, 2012. For more information, call TRTC’s 24-hour hotline at (02) 218-12345, the 1999 Citizen Hotline (or 02-27208889 in areas outside Taipei) or visit the TRTC website.

The gondola has been in operation for 17,000 consecutive hours, approaching the 22,500-hour limit for routine overhauls, the TRTC announced. To ensure safety and stability, from May 2nd to June 1st, 2012, the gondola will be closed for a 31-day maintenance, with POMA offering on-site technical instructions for the testing of major devices (such as the cable pulley sets, gear box, emergency brake caliper, main motor, etc.), maximum load and system functioning. In partnership with Taipei City’s authorities concerned, the TRTC has also sent formal notifications to travel agencies' associations while announcing the overhaul in both posters and the real-time passenger information system at MRT stations.

The TRTC assures those who still hold the “Returning Visitor Free Ride Tickets” (a total of 9,510 tickets were issued during the first month of the launch of the online gondola reservation system) that the expiry date is extended from June 30th to July 31st, 2012, so that the rights of the ticket-holders are not affected by the suspended service. Nevertheless, the TRTC kindly reminds holders to use the tickets as soon as possible.

For an efficient trip to Maokong and to cut down the queuing time, passengers are advised to reserve gondola tickets via the Maokong Gondola website one day before the ride, simply by entering the desired date, cabin type, time of ride, and to print out a “Maokong Gondola Reservation & Reporting Form”.

During the gondola overhaul, visitors bound for Maokong may take Mini Bus No. 10 at MRT Wanfang Community Station, or Brown 15 at Taipei Zoo Station. Visitors to the THREESTONE TEAPOT MUSEUM or other Maokong attractions may take the Maokong Itinerant Buses (Zhinan Temple and Taipei Zoo routes). Busing information is available at the Taipei e-Bus System. (http://5284.taipei.gov.tw/)

For more details, visit the Maokong Gondola website. (http://gondola.trtc.com.tw/)