Taiwan High-Speed Rail to discontinue shuttle bus services on three routes from March 1

Text/Compiled and reported by Wei Ruyu

Taiwan High-Speed Rail announced that starting today (2012) March 1, it will discontinue three express bus shuttle routes — the “Hsinchu Station Dongmen Market Line,” the “Chiayi Station BRT Line,” and the “Taichung Station Dali Children’s Art Museum Line” — and have them operated and charged for by local bus companies.

Taiwan High-Speed Rail stated that since the launch of the express bus shuttle services, the “Hsinchu Station Dongmen Market Line” and the “Chiayi Station BRT Line” have seen steady and consistent growth in passenger volume. The two bus companies responsible for operations have actively expressed their willingness to operate the services independently. Meanwhile, since the Neiwan Branch Line of the Taiwan Railways Administration began service last November, passengers traveling from Dongmen Market to Hsinchu HSR Station can take the TRA for connections. Having assessed that conditions are now mature for both routes to be returned to market mechanisms, the company has decided to end the joint marketing efforts. As for the “Taichung Station Dali Children’s Art Museum Line,” passenger volume has remained consistently low since the transfer service was launched on June 1, 2011, and the joint marketing will also be terminated.

The fare structures and pricing rates for the three routes after the cancellation of free shuttle services will be implemented after being approved by the Directorate General of Highways, Ministry of Transportation and Communications. For details, please visit the “Transfer Services” section on the HSR corporate website (www.thsrc.com.tw/tc/transfer/transfer.asp), or contact the respective bus route operators.

● Read more: Great Trips in Taiwan – 20 Popular Scenic Spot Shuttle Services Launched Across the Country

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