[citation needed] The system has been praised by locals for its effectiveness in relieving growing traffic congestion in Taipei and its surrounding satellite towns, with over eight million trips made daily.

[8] The idea of constructing a rapid transit system on the island was first put forth at a press conference on 28 June 1968, where the Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced its plans to begin researching the possibility of constructing such a network in the Taipei metropolitan area; however, the plan was shelved due to financial concerns and the belief that such a system was not urgently needed at the time.

With the increase of traffic congestion accompanying economic growth in the 1970s, the need for a rapid transit system became more pressing.

[10] In 1982, the Taipei City Government commissioned National Chiao Tung University to do a research and feasibility study on medium-capacity rapid transit systems.

The TRTS was the center of political controversy during its construction and shortly after the opening of its first line in 1996 due to incidents such as computer malfunction during a thunderstorm, alleged structural problems in some elevated segments, budget overruns, and fare prices.

[20] On 3 April 2024, following a magnitude 7 earthquake hitting the island, all active MRT trains were suspended for safety checks to be conducted.

[22] [23] The system is designed based on the spoke-hub distribution paradigm, with most rail lines running radially outward from central Taipei.

The MRT system operates daily from 06:00 to 00:00 the following day[24] (the last trains finish their runs by 01:00), with extended services during special events (such as New Year festivities).

[37] Turnstiles of Taipei Metro are being replaced by the end of 2025 to enable contactless bank card and QR code payments.

[38] The Taipei Metro provides an obstacle-free environment within the entire system; all stations and trains are handicap accessible.

[46] The world's first WiMAX-service metro trains were introduced on the Wenhu line in 2007, allowing passengers to access the internet and watch live broadcasts.

Some other transfer stations, including Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Guting, and Songjiang Nanjing, also have wide platforms.

[50][51][52] A Track Intrusion Detection System had also been installed to improve passenger safety at stations without platform doors.

Key components of the system include impedance bond, 4-foot loops, marker coils, alignment antennae and two-aspect light signals for the wayside as well as automatic train supervision which utilises centralized traffic control.

All rolling stocks on the Taipei Metro are electric multiple units, powered by a third rail at 750 volts direct current.

Integration of Bombardier's trains with the existing Wenhu line proved to be difficult in the beginning, with multiple system malfunctions and failures during the first three months of operation.

Most announcements are pre-recorded in Mandarin, English, Hokkien and Hakka, with Japanese and Korean at busy stations.

Like many contemporary metro rolling stock designs such as the MOVIA by Bombardier, each train features open gangways, allowing passengers to move freely between cars.

Also placed were the more "sleeker" cab and the new advertising screens (as seen in newer Japanese commuter trains such as the E233 series) to improve energy efficiency, although it retains the same propulsion as the C371s.

[citation needed] Taipei Metro also uses a fleet of specialised trains for maintenance of way purposes:[67] The system currently has 9 depots, with more under construction.

Despite earlier controversy, by the time the first phase of construction was completed in 2000, it was generally agreed that the metro project was a success, and it has since become an essential part of life in Taipei.

The system has been effective in reducing traffic congestion in the city and has spurred the revival of satellite towns (like Tamsui) and development of new areas (like Nangang).

[77] According to a study conducted by the Railway Technology Strategy Center at Imperial College London,[78] and data gathered by Nova/CoMET, the Taipei Metro has ranked number 1 in the world for four consecutive years in terms of reliability, safety, and quality standards (2004–2007).

[81] The record for single day ridership hit 2.5 million passengers during the New Year's Eve celebrations on 31 December 2010.

[84] In May 2016, the Singapore Transport Minister, Khaw Boon Wan, said that his country's rail operators, SBS Transit and SMRT, should emulate the example of Taipei Metro.

Khaw said the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) is working with the TRTC to attach staff from SBS and SMRT to its metro workshops, so they can learn from its asset maintenance practices and engineering improvements.

The line will then change to an elevated mode and reach its termini at Xintai 5th Road in Xizhi District, New Taipei City.

On 17 September 2001, Typhoon Nari flooded all underground tracks as well as 16 stations, the heavy-capacity system operation control center, the administration building, and the Nangang Depot.

[100] In early 2021, it was discovered that a pornographic film production company had created a series of sets which copied the design of MRT trains and stations.

[101] On 30 December 2021, Taipei MRT rejected an Amnesty International advertisement which featured detained human rights activist Lee Ming-che.