It is an automated medium-capacity rubber-tyred metro line and is 25.1 kilometres (15.6 mi) long, serving a total of 24 stations located in 7 districts in Taipei, of which 22 are elevated and 2 underground.

It was plagued by controversy, cost overruns and technical problems from its development up to a few years after its opening.

[5] Originally slated to commence passenger service in December 1991, its revenue operation was repeatedly delayed up to 28 March 1996 owing to numerous accidents.

[6] Public confidence was shaken as incidents of lightning strikes, computer failures, two instances of rolling stock derailment and catching fire each were reported during the testing phase.

The opening of Maokong Gondola in 2007 have also boosted passenger numbers travelling on the line to Taipei Zoo for transfer.

It connects to Neihu and Taipei Songshan Airport, which currently has no rapid transit access.

On 19 December 2010, fifty-one pairs of retrofitted VAL 256's (from the Matra rolling stock) will begin testing on the entire line.

In addition, due to the narrow streets and numerous turns in Neihu, construction of an underground high-capacity line would have been infeasible.

[17] The fleet ran on rubber-tyred track at a maximum speed of 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph).