Catch the Summer Travel Wave: Taiwan Rail Launches Tourist Trains and Island-Circling Tickets

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, reported and compiled by Li Xinyi

During the summer vacation, large-scale themed tourism events are kicking off across Taiwan. Starting in July, major events such as the Hot Air Balloon Carnival, Old Mountain Line Cultural Festival, Nantou Train Festival, and North Coast Listen to the Sea Music Festival are heating up. To accommodate the surge in tourist travelers, Taiwan Railways Administration has added special train services. Holiday-operated Fu-Hsing Express trains offer super-value discounted fares: NT$200 from northern Taiwan to Hualien, NT$350 to Taitung, and just NT$160 from Kaohsiung to Taitung. There’s also the student island-circling ticket — the “TR-PASS Student Version” for NT$599 for 5 days or NT$799 for 7 days, allowing travel across Taiwan using trains no higher than Ju-Feng Class.

In addition, the nationwide popular CK124 steam train is also on duty in Nantou and Miaoli. Among them, the “Midsummer Formosa” operating every Wednesday on the Jiji Line during the summer vacation celebrates both the international marketing efforts of Taiwan Railways Administration’s railway tourism and the hot sales of the Midsummer Formosa steam train. A special “Midsummer Formosa, Most In Giveaway” event is held as a token of appreciation for passengers riding the August Midsummer Formosa trains. For every August journey on the Midsummer Formosa, one lucky passenger per train will be drawn to receive an exclusive limited-edition commemorative item launched by Taiwan Railways Administration. This is a commemorative seal specially cast to celebrate the sister-train partnership between Taiwan Railways’ “CK124 Midsummer Formosa” and Japan JR Hokkaido Kushiro Branch’s “C11 Winter Marshland.” Each set includes two designs (one featuring the CK124 and the other the C11 steam locomotive), with only 400 sets produced in a limited quantity, available exclusively on the “Midsummer Formosa” trains.

Taiwan Railways Administration will draw 10 lucky passengers on 10 train trips across five dates in August — namely August 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 — who will each receive this commemorative item. Ticket sales for the August 1 trip will start at 6:00 AM on July 18. For related booking information and detailed schedules, please visit the Taiwan Railways Administration official website: www.railway.gov.tw.

● Read more: Nantou Train Festival – Ride National Treasure Steam Trains for Free

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