Taiwan Railways announces major schedule changes starting today; Puyuma trains to run 104 weekly services

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Commuters and travelers, take note！ Taiwan Railways' major schedule revision takes effect on September 25, involving adjustments to 296 train services. The Puyuma trains running between Taipei and Hualien will increase from weekly to 108 services per week, with a travel time of just two hours. The interval between Taipei–Hualien Taroko Express services will also be reduced from 46 minutes to 37 minutes, with trains running every half hour on holidays. Meanwhile, the local commuter trains, most frequently used by daily passengers, will see minimal schedule adjustments, with changes of no more than three to five minutes.

▲After the Taiwan Railways schedule adjustment, services between Taipei and Hualien have increased and travel times have been shortened, offering passengers tangible "benefits." (Photo / Eastern News, file photo)

Taiwan Railways stated that this schedule revision is mainly to accommodate the addition of Puyuma trains operating on the North-Link Line. Going forward, there will be 34 more weekly Puyuma services between Taipei and Hualien, with the fastest travel time reduced to just 1 hour and 59 minutes. For Taroko Express services, intervals have also been shortened, with trains running every 37 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on holidays. The latest timetables are available for free at all stations, or you can inquire viathe Taiwan Railways official website.

However, in this round of schedule changes, the Taroko Express services running directly between Hualien and Changhua will add four new stops, increasing the one-way travel time by 12 minutes. This has sparked complaints from many passengers. Some commuters noted that the Taroko Express now stops at nearly every station, making it almost indistinguishable from a local train. In response, Taiwan Railways explained that the additional stops were made to meet local demands. Another major schedule revision is planned for next year’s Lunar New Year, when a comprehensive review will be conducted.