Bye bye Kitty！ The Hello Kitty Cable Car will be on its “final duty” on May 3

▲Hello Kitty’s final day working on the Maokong Gondola on May 3. (Photo / Provided by Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation)

Local Center / Comprehensive Report

Hello Kitty, the ambassador of the Maokong Gondola, is about to “graduate” on May 3. She started her role as the gondola’s mascot at the end of 2013 and received an enthusiastic response, drawing over 4 million visitors, with some “Hello Kitty fans” making special trips from various places to ride it. Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation said,May 3 will be Hello Kitty’s “last duty day,” after which the gondola will undergo annual maintenance and will be suspended from operation from May 4 (Monday) to May 19 (Tuesday), for a total of 16 days.

During her tenure as the mascot, Hello Kitty was not only stationed at the gondola stations and inside the cabins, but also appeared on the gender-specific restroom signage. To allow the public to bid a proper farewell to Hello Kitty, Taipei Rapid Transit has launched commemorative merchandise at special thank-you prices. For example, laser stickers originally priced at NT$40 are available for just NT$10, and the “Maokong Gondola Edition Kitty Mug,” originally NT$250, is now only NT$120. These items can be purchased at the ticket office on the first floor of the Maokong Gondola Zoo Station, the gondola merchandise booth, and the Taipei Rapid Transit merchandise store.

%Over 4 million visitors came to say goodbye. (Photo / Provided by Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation)

After Hello Kitty completes her mission,the gondola will undergo annual maintenance from May 4 (Monday) to May 19 (Tuesday),including refurbishment of key equipment such as the main motor, rescue motor, tensioning hydraulic cylinder, hydraulic control assembly, and deflection wheel, as well as load testing.The system will be out of service for 16 days.

As the maintenance period coincides with Mother’s Day, Taipei Rapid Transit has coordinated with bus operators to add extra services on the weekends of May 9 and 10 to facilitate travel for passengers going up and down the mountain.

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