Taiwan Railway Restores Platform Ticket Sales with Updated Pricing

Access to train platforms now available for NT$22, with hourly usage limits.

Taiwan Railway Corp. (TR) has reinstated the sale of platform tickets at all its stations, a service that was previously discontinued. The new platform tickets are priced at NT$22, a significant increase from the prior NT$6.

These platform tickets grant individuals access to TR station train platforms, allowing them to accompany or see off passengers, but do not permit boarding any trains. This service is particularly helpful for those assisting friends and family at the station.

The sale of platform tickets was suspended at most of TR's over 170 stations in June 2013. While a few select stations, including some in Taichung, continued to offer a form of platform access, this usually involved exchanging a personal identification card, which was returned upon exit.

However, due to growing privacy concerns leading to a decline in people willing to leave their identification documents, Taiwan Railway decided to reintroduce the sale of platform tickets starting June 23. These tickets can now be purchased at station ticket counters or through automated ticket vending machines.

The NT$22 platform ticket is valid for one hour of access to the platform area after entering the station.

For visitors who exceed the one-hour limit but remain for less than three hours, an additional charge of NT$139 will be applied on top of the initial NT$22 ticket cost.

Should a visitor stay for more than three hours, a supplementary fee of NT$911 will be incurred.

Data from TR indicates a notable increase in platform ticket revenue. In 2023, total sales amounted to NT$59,550. By the end of June this year, cumulative sales for 2024 had already reached NT$57,474, surpassing last year's annual total. The revenue for the entirety of 2024 is on track to be substantially higher.