The Taipa-Barra extension became operational on Friday, extending the Taipa Line of the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) network to Barra on the Macao peninsula.
Hundreds of locals and visitors began queuing Thursday night outside of the station to take the first train, which departed Barra Station at 6:30 am, Macau Post Daily reported.
One transport enthusiast arrived at 9 pm on Thursday evening to be sure of getting a good place in the queue, the paper said. Others arrived in the early hours of Friday morning.
The 3.4-kilometre extension features an enclosed track that runs beneath the San Van Bridge and takes about four minutes to transport passengers from Barra to Taipa’s Ocean Station. From there, they can continue on to the Taipa Ferry Terminal via the 11-station Taipa Line.
[See more: What’s next for Macao’s LRT?]
The LRT’s chairman, Ho Cheong Kei, has said trains will arrive and depart Barra Station at 10 minute intervals between 6:30 am and 11:15 pm on weekdays, increasing to seven minute intervals during peak hours.
On weekends and public holidays, trains will run until midnight.
Work on the 1.18 billion pataca extension project commenced in August 2018. The line was supposed to be up and running by March 2023, but the pandemic and inclement weather lead to delays.
Three more LRT lines are currently under construction: the Seac Pai Van Line, the Hengqin Line and the East Line. The first two are expected to open next year, while the entirely underground East Line is not scheduled for completion until 2028.
