2014 high-speed rail Spring Festival transport tickets go on pre-sale at midnight on December 31

During the Spring Festival transport period, transport capacity is sufficient, with up to 7 trains per hour in one direction during peak times. From February 2 (the third day of the Lunar New Year) to 4 (the fifth day), there will be 105 northbound trains in one direction, setting a new single-day record. Based on past ticket sales experience, the moment tickets go on sale, the high-speed rail online booking system and the “T Express” mobile ticketing and reservation system often experience slower speeds due to a sudden surge in bookings. Unless you are booking for specific peak times (such as after noon on January 29 before the holiday, before evening on January 30 on the first day of the holiday, or the morning of February 1 on the second day), or for Early Bird Discount services, it is recommended to use the over 9,800 convenience store ticketing points or book slightly later on the day of sale to avoid peak online traffic.

 

Taiwan High Speed Rail’s operational and promotional services during the 2014 Spring Festival transport period include the following for non-reserved seating: considering that part of the 2014 Spring Festival transport period overlaps with weekdays, to serve commuters, during the first three days of transport (January 27 to 29) and the last day (February 5)—all weekdays—the current service model of providing 4 non-reserved cars (cars 9, 10, 11, and 12) during peak hours will remain unchanged. For other trains during the Spring Festival transport period, 3 non-reserved cars will be provided.

 

For the Early Bird Discount, there will be 850 train services with Early Bird Discounts during the 2014 Spring Festival transport period, accounting for 52.1% of all services. Passengers who purchase tickets between 8 and 28 days before the departure date may enjoy discounts of 65%, 80%, or 90%. For some services, in addition to the 65% and 80% discounts, at least a 90% discount is available.

 

Passengers holding period tickets or multi-ride tickets will have their ticket validity automatically extended by 6 days starting from February 5 (inclusive) if their validity period includes the 6-day national holiday from January 30 to February 4. Passengers with period tickets, multi-ride tickets, or EasyCard co-branded cards can enter stations directly by tapping their cards. Other promotions include a Spring Festival edition of the university student discount and discounted fares for standard class seats. Limited upgrades to business class are available on January 27, 28, and February 5, 2014. However, senior citizen discounts, group discounts for 30 or more people, and school trip programs do not qualify for these promotions.

 

 

●  Further Reading:

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