Chen Yurong questioned Zhongjie’s compensation of 40 yuan for each passenger, and it may lose another 5.8 billion yuan before the Blue Line is opened.

The Taichung Rapid Transit Corporation's financial targets for next year's business plan estimate revenue of NT$546.4 million, expenditures of NT$1.2768 billion, and a pre-tax net loss of more than NT$730 million. City Councilor Chen Yurong pointed out that the business plan estimates a daily transportation volume of 50,300 passengers next year, which is 50,300 passengers nationwide. There are approximately 18.36 million passengers per year, and the passenger revenue is NT$464.5 million. Each passenger brings in an average revenue of NT$25.3. However, the operating cost is as high as NT$69.5, which is equivalent to a loss of NT$39.8 for each passenger carried. In the future, it may lose another NT$5.8 billion before the Blue Line is opened.

Director of Transportation, Director Ye, responded that MRT traffic volume is increasing year by year, because currently there is only one MRT line, and it is still difficult for the operation to be self-sufficient and profitable. The city government will provide appropriate subsidies, hoping to improve losses through increasing revenue and reducing expenditure, and speeding up the promotion of other MRT lines in the future.

Chen Yurong pointed out that Zhongjie will continue to suffer losses next year, and Zhongjie's ancillary business revenue will only be 42.99 million yuan, accounting for 7.9%; the transportation volume target will increase from an average of 47,182 passengers per day in 2025 to 50,300. times, it only grew by 6.6%. Passenger revenue was NT$464.5 million, with each passenger bringing in an average of NT$25.3. However, the operating cost was as high as NT$69.5, which equals a loss of NT$39.8, or about NT$40, for every passenger carried.

Chen Yurong said that the city government, as the competent authority, only approved the Zhongjie Project Plan when it was submitted to the municipal meeting, but did not require any countermeasures. The Zhongjie Project also admitted that economies of scale would only be achieved when the Blue Line was completed and opened to traffic. The Blue Line will be completed and opened to traffic in 2034. If the annual loss rate of 730 million yuan is calculated, it is expected that there will be another loss of 5.8 billion yuan before the Blue Line is opened to traffic.

Chen Yurong questioned that Mayor Lu was busy calling for the launch of the 7 MRT Lines and holding the groundbreaking ceremony. He spent 8 million yuan on the marketing of the MRT network in two years. The money was spent on promoting the routes that have not yet been built. The Green Line that is already on the road is losing money with every train.

Zhongjie also added that the Green Line has been officially opened to traffic on April 25, 2021, and some system equipment has gradually entered the overhaul cycle. With material costs rising, operating costs continue to increase; the MRT currently only has a single route, and the growth space for transportation volume and operating efficiency is limited. It will continue to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, strive for reasonable freight subsidies in accordance with the law, and actively expand ancillary income.