The long-expected Maokong cable car system is scheduled to be inaugurated for commercial operations July 4 if the system passes a battery of tests and checks, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin （郝龍斌） said on Friday.

Hau made the announcement at a meeting of the citys Bureau of Transportation, held to review the progress of the cable car project.

According to the operator, the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp., the cable car will run from 9:00 a.m. to 22: 00 p.m. on weekdays, and will begin operations a half hour earlier on weekend and holidays, in accordance with the opening hours of the Taipei Zoo, one of the cable car terminals.

In a report on operational drills of the cable car system, which runs from the popular Taipei Zoo to Muzhas Maokong tea-production area, TRTC officials said at the meeting that thunder storms in Muzha were the greatest challenge facing the new transportation system.

When thunder strikes, all 144 cabins of the cable car system must stop running and all passengers be evacuated as soon as possible. This is particularly troublesome as it is difficult to accurately predict thunder storms, the officials said.

To address this problem, the TRTC has consulted with the Taiwan Power Company on how to detect the occurrence of lightning strikes and the movement of thunder storms, while planning to purchase a lightning detection system, the officials said.

In an attempt to assuage public concerns over the cable car safety, Yang Hsi-an, deputy secretary-general of the city government, said passengers in the cabin will not be affected by thunder storms because the cable car system is equipped with lightning conductors.

According to the city officials, ticket prices for the Maokong cable car line, which will have four stations, have been set at NT$30, NT$40 and NT$50. There is also a "One-Day" ticket available for NT$250 which may be used multiple times in a 24-hour period.

Ticket prices will be reviewed and adjusted 18 months after the cable car systems inauguration, officials said.