Taiwan High Speed Rail
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"Fast but uncomfortable"
We took a short ride from Banqiao to Taoyuan Station. Booking was simple, and our overseas credit card worked without issue. The train was fast and departed on time, which was great. However, the seats were quite uncomfortable for the duration of the ride. For longer journeys, I would definitely consider upgrading to business class for more comfort.
"Events that don’t want to happen again"
I recently traveled on a high-speed train from Daung K to Banqiao on a Sunday and had an extremely unpleasant experience. The carriage was overcrowded, making it difficult to breathe, and I nearly fainted due to the lack of air and personal space. It’s clear that the trains need a maximum passenger limit, especially on busy weekends. I hope the company takes urgent measures to prevent overcrowding and ensure a safer, more comfortable journey for all passengers.
"No senior discount"
High Speed Rail (HSR) in Taiwan only offers senior (65+) discounts to Taiwanese citizens. Non-Taiwanese residents—even those who live, work, pay taxes, and hold permanent residency in Taiwan—are excluded from this benefit. Attempts to get clarification from HSR about this policy were unsuccessful. It seems unfair that seniors who contribute to Taiwan’s economy cannot access the same travel discounts as Taiwanese citizens. HSR should extend senior discounts to all residents, whether they are tourists, permanent residents, or citizens, to make travel more equitable and affordable.
"Paying twice the price of regular train service to save some time"
While the high-speed train does save travel time onboard, I don’t see why it’s worth paying nearly double the price compared to regular train service. Most stations, except in Taipei, are far from your final destination, meaning you spend additional time and money on buses or taxis. For many routes, the time saved on the train is largely offset by these transfers, making the overall journey less convenient than expected.
"Not seat"
I purchased a ticket one day before traveling from Hualien to Taipei and was never informed that it did not include a reserved seat. As a result, I had to stand for 2 hours during the journey, despite paying NT$440. The company should clearly indicate whether a ticket includes a seat to avoid passengers being forced to stand on long trips.
"Beware of malfunctioning automatic ticket vending machines"
At the end of February, I attempted to purchase a ticket to Tainan from an automatic ticket vending machine at Taipei Station, but it repeatedly displayed “My credit card PIN is wrong.” After several attempts, I had no choice but to buy the ticket at the counter. Later, I discovered that my JCB credit card had been charged for three tickets—two from the vending machine attempts and one from the counter purchase. I immediately reported the issue to JCB, but the charges were not refunded. Taiwan High Speed Rail maintains that the machines successfully issued the tickets. Buyers using automatic ticket vending machines should be very cautious to avoid similar overcharges.
"Beware"
The trains are unbelievably comfortable and always on time, comparable to the Japanese bullet trains. However, be very careful not to lose your ticket. My wife misplaced our tickets, and even after showing our credit card and confirmation letter, we were forced to pay the full fare again for the same train and seats. A costly and frustrating experience—definitely something to watch out for.
Taiwan High Speed Rail
Connects Taipei to Kaohsiung in under 2 hours.
Address
Taiwan
Website
https://www.thsrc.com.tw/
Email
https://www.thsrc.com.tw/ArticleContent/AFAC38BD-AC68-419A-9B7F-E5C0EBCE3CE8
Telephone
https://www.thsrc.com.tw/ArticleContent/AFAC38BD-AC68-419A-9B7F-E5C0EBCE3CE8