By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
The nine-day Spring Festival holiday in 2016 is approaching. To accommodate the huge transportation demand, Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) and Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) have extended their transport period to 12 days. From February 4 to February 15, THSR will add 545 additional train services (262 southbound and 283 northbound), offering a total of 2,065 train trips during the transport period while maintaining the "Early Bird Discount" and "College Student Discount." TRA will also add a total of 529 extra train services across all service levels and attach 1,075 additional cars.
THSR has begun accepting bookings for Spring Festival holiday tickets. (Image source: Taiwan High Speed Rail)
● Taiwan High Speed Rail
During the transport period, 3 to 5 cars with non-reserved seating will be arranged per train based on travel demand.Round-trip tickets for the Spring Festival transport period can now be purchased in one go.
With large crowds expected during the Spring Festival, passengers are advised to consider using alternative routes for a more comfortable and smooth journey.
Diversion options include:
1. For medium- and short-distance travelers whose start and end points are within the "Taipei–Taichung" section, you may take advantage of trains with service numbers 1500 to 1579 that run between Taipei and Taichung.
2. For medium- to long-distance travelers traveling between the Greater Taipei Area and areas south of Taichung, please use trains with service numbers 300 to 379 and 1300 to 1379, which stop at stations along the route “Taipei–Banqiao–Taichung–Changhua–Yunlin–Chiayi–Tainan–Zuoying.”
3. For travelers heading to or from stations other than Miaoli, Changhua, and Yunlin, please use trains with service numbers 600 to 799 and 1600 to 1799, which run along the “Taipei–Banqiao–Taoyuan–Zhubei–Taichung–Chiayi–Tainan–Zuoying” route.
THSR has designated 924 train services during the Spring Festival transport period eligible for the "Early Bird Discount." Passengers who book tickets 5 to 28 days before their travel date may enjoy discounts of 65%, 80%, or 90%. In addition, 410 train services during the transport period will qualify for the "College Student Discount."
TRA began accepting reservations for eastern trunk line trains on January 19 and for western trunk line reserved-seat trains on January 20. (Image source: Taiwan Railways Administration)
● Taiwan Railways Administration
To meet the travel needs of passengers during the Spring Festival holiday, TRA has added a total of 529 extra train services across all service levels and attached 1,075 additional cars.From January 19, tickets for eastern trunk line trains (including the Yilan Line, South-Link Line, and interlined trains) can be booked online, via phone, or at convenience stores. From January 20, tickets for western trunk line reserved-seat trains can be booked through these channels as well.
During the Spring Festival transport period, the eastern trunk line (including the South-Link Line) will see 229 additional Tzu-Chiang Limited Express services, 82 additional Chu-Kuang Express services, and 77 additional Fuxing and local train services, totaling 388 additional services. The western trunk line will add 88 Tzu-Chiang Limited Express services and 53 Chu-Kuang Express services, totaling 141 additional services. To divert passengers during Spring Festival peak hours, TRA will offer 70% discounted "red-eye" trains during off-peak times on February 5, 13, and 14 to ease crowding.
Additionally, from February 6 to 14, three round-trips (a total of 54 services) of reserved-seat local express trains between Shulin and Luodong will be added daily, with discounted fares of NT$100. On February 5, 6, 13, and 14, 11 services of the new Tzu-Chiang Limited Express on the Eastern Line with open seating (cars 7 and 8) will be operated for public use.