Text / Edited and reported by the MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network editorial team
As part of the deployment of four newly purchased self-propelled express trains (Puyuma and Taroko), Taiwan Railways announced new services starting April 21. In addition to serving high-demand eastern areas, Taiwan Railways has added one daily direct Puyuma train from Taipei to Kaohsiung and Pingtung in the west, with travel times of 3 hours 40 minutes and 4 hours respectively.
Taiwan Railways launches direct Taipei-Kaohsiung service. (Image source / Taitung County Government)
Taiwan Railways announced that it will increase the number of self-propelled express train services between Taipei and Taitung from 106 to 118 weekly trips. Among them, trains 431 and 422 will operate from Monday to Thursday, while trains 445 and 436 will run from Friday to Sunday. Additionally, two new semi-direct self-propelled express train services between Changhua and Hualien (trains 291 and 292) will be added, operating on Saturdays.The most anticipated addition is the two daily round-trip Puyuma services between Taipei and Pingtung’s Chaozhou. The Taipei to Pingtung trip takes 4 hours with a full fare of NT$891, while the Taipei to Kaohsiung trip takes 3 hours 40 minutes with a full fare of NT$843. These services operate as trains 111 and 136, running daily.
It is understood that Taiwan High Speed Rail added three new stations in December 2015, which may have led to a potential diversion of Taiwan Railways passengers. In response, Taiwan Railways introduced direct Puyuma round-trips between Taipei and Kaohsiung. Although the travel time of over two hours longer than the 1 hour 36 minutes of the THSR direct service, the one-way fare for the Puyuma is just NT$843, compared to NT$1,490 for THSR — saving NT$1,294 for a round trip, nearly the cost of one high-speed rail ticket. This makes the Puyuma an attractive option for budget-conscious travelers.
Taiwan High Speed Rail adds three new stations. (Image source / Taiwan High Speed Rail)
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Two new self-propelled express trains added between Taipei and Pingtung’s Chaozhou (daily services: trains 111 and 136), with Taipei–Kaohsiung (3 hours 40 minutes, full fare NT$843) and Taipei–Pingtung (4 hours, full fare NT$891).
◎ Train 111 stops at:
Songshan (07:48) – Taipei (08:00) – Banqiao (08:08) – Taichung (09:38) – Chiayi (10:33) – Tainan (11:08) – Kaohsiung (11:40) – Pingtung (11:57) – Chaozhou (12:08).
◎ Train 136 stops at:
Chaozhou (14:58) – Pingtung (15:10) – Kaohsiung (15:30) – Tainan (15:58) – Chiayi (16:33) – Taichung (17:30) – Banqiao (18:58) – Taipei (19:10) – Songshan (19:17).