Taichung’s “Waipu New Express” Bus  Arrives in Downtown in Just 40 Minutes Starting September

▲ Taichung’s “Waipu New Express” Bus No. 175. (Photo / Courtesy ofi384 Love Buses Fan Page - Mountains, Seas, and Tuntun)

Reported by Cai Wenjun / Comprehensive Report

Residents of Waipu in Taichung, who used to spend two hours traveling from their homes to the city center, now have good news to celebrate！Starting September 1, the Taichung City Government’s Transportation Bureau will launch Bus No. 157, the “Waipu New Express.” In the future, it will only take 40 minutes to travel from Waipu to downtown, with convenient stops near popular destinations such as the Fengjia Night Market and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi.

Originally, there were only three bus routes in Waipu District, but the number has now increased to ten. Lin Liang-tai, Director of the Taichung City Transportation Bureau, stated that the Waipu New Express Bus No. 157 will start from the Waipu District Office and head straight into the city center. Along the way, it will pass by six schools: Waipu Junior High School, Dongyang Elementary School, Zhiyong Senior High School, Feng Chia University, Transworld Institute of Technology, and Shishan National High School. Nearby, there are also the Fengjia Night Market and department stores. Currently, cardholders can enjoy up to 8 kilometers free of charge, compatibility with four types of transportation cards, and a maximum discount of NT$60, making commuting and school travel more affordable and convenient for both workers and students.

Lin Liang-tai said that Bus No. 157 will depart on the hour, with one bus per hour. The first departure was originally scheduled for 6:00 AM, but after students reported that the time was too early, it was changed to 6:30 AM. During the first three days of official operation (September 1 to 3), the first Bus No. 157 departures at 6:30 AM from the Waipu District Office and at 7:30 AM from the intersection of Xiangshang Huiwen Road will each distribute 50 commemorative iPASS cards. Supplies are limited and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.