Taiwan Railway Gears Up for June: More Trains and Enhanced Services!

Boosting Capacity and Improving Travel for Passengers Across the Island.

Taipei, May 5 – Taiwan Railway Corp. (TR) is set to significantly enhance its train services starting June 26, promising improved travel experiences for commuters and tourists alike. This expansion follows the completion of crucial infrastructure upgrades, paving the way for increased capacity and more convenient travel options across Taiwan.

On the Eastern Trunk Line, passengers can look forward to two additional Tze-Chiang Express trains. This enhancement is a direct result of the completion of the rebuilt Xiaoqingshui Bridge, located between Heren and Chongde stations in Hualien County. The bridge's reconstruction, following the damage caused by Typhoon Gaemi in August 2024, has already reduced travel times between Taipei and Hualien since the resumption of dual-track operation last December.

The new services, commencing on June 26, will offer a direct route between Shulin Station in New Taipei and Taitung Station, with stops only in Taipei and Hualien. This provides a streamlined and efficient travel option for those traversing the island's eastern coast.

Travelers on the Western Trunk Line will also benefit from two new Tze-Chiang Express (3000) services. These services, available on Saturdays, will connect Qidu in Keelung and Changhua in central Taiwan, further boosting passenger capacity on direct routes between Taipei, Fengyuan, and Taichung.

Furthermore, TR will add two carriages to 22 local trains operating between Keelung and Hsinchu, increasing their capacity to 10 carriages each. A new local train service will also be introduced, connecting Zhongli in Taoyuan and Qidu in Keelung, running exclusively in the morning. These changes will lead to an overall 4.4 percent increase in local train capacity in northern Taiwan, with a significant 10.3 percent boost during the morning rush hour.

Similar capacity enhancements are planned for 18 local train services in central Taiwan, following the completion of platform lengthening projects to accommodate 10-carriage trains. In addition, the routes of two Semi Express services between Qidu and Changhua will be extended to Xinzuoying in Kaohsiung on weekends and public holidays, contributing to a 5.8 percent overall increase in local train capacity.

In total, the revised schedules will see 386 train services operating, providing passengers with a wider range of choices and increased convenience.

Detailed timetables will soon be available on Taiwan Railway's website. Group travelers can begin booking tickets for the new services on May 23, while general ticket sales will commence on May 29.