By the MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
In August 2015, news broke that Taiwan Railways (TRA) had adjusted its schedule to include the Puyuma train in the “Taipei-Kaohsiung direct” service, cutting travel time by one hour compared to the current Tzu-Chiang Limited Express. Starting April 21, travelers gained an additional public transportation option besides the high-speed rail. With this minor schedule adjustment, the Puyuma train officially began stopping along the Western Trunk Line, greeting passengers with Xiao Qingyang’s painted Puyuma train.
The Puyuma train’s extended route along the Western Trunk Line allows it to reach more destinations. (Image source / TRA)
In the past, the Puyuma and Taroko trains only operated as far as Changhua Station on the Western Trunk Line. The increased services extending further south have led to more train frequencies between Taipei and Kaohsiung. Two new Tzu-Chiang Limited Express services have been added between Taipei and Chaozhou, Pingtung, with travel times of 4 hours between Taipei and Pingtung, and 3 hours 40 minutes between Taipei and Kaohsiung, operated daily by trains 111 and 136 respectively.
Transportation options and benefits between central Taiwan and Hualien in the east have also been expanded, with two new Tzu-Chiang Limited Express services, 291 and 292, running between Changhua and Hualien on Saturdays.