Taiwan Railway Corporation Announces Fare Hike: Navigating the New Ticket Prices

Explore the impact of the upcoming fare adjustments and what it means for travelers across Taiwan.

Taipei, April 23rd – The Taiwan Railway Corporation (TRC) has revealed its upcoming fare adjustments, set to take effect on June 23rd. The state-run railway company's services will see an average price increase of 26.8 percent.

The newly released fare schedule highlights specific changes. For example, the Tze-Chiang Limited Express from Taipei Station to Xinzuoying Station will increase from NT$824 to NT$975. Similarly, the fare from Taipei Station to Kaohsiung Station will rise from NT$843 to NT$994.

This decision follows a motion passed by the TRC Board of Directors on February 5th. The fare increases are a direct response to the NT$13.79 billion deficit reported by the company last year.

TRC has stated that the new fares were calculated to achieve a 0.36 percent profit margin, which equates to an average price of NT$1.82 (US$0.05) per kilometer, up from the current NT$1.46.

Passengers utilizing the Cabinet's TPASS monthly pass for shorter journeys will be unaffected by the fare increases. TRC also noted that the price adjustments are inversely proportional to distance, suggesting a "limited impact" on long-distance travelers.