By Wei Ruyu, compiled and reported
Taiwan High-Speed Rail announced that starting today (2012) on 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 will transfer operations to local bus companies for self-managed, paid services.
After Taiwan High-Speed Rail cancels free shuttle services on these three routes, market mechanisms will take over, with bus companies operating them independently. (Photo provided by Taiwan High-Speed Rail)
Taiwan High-Speed Rail stated that since the launch of the “Hsinchu Station Dongmen Market Line” and the “Chiayi Station BRT Line” as express bus shuttles, passenger volume has seen steady growth. The two bus companies in charge have actively expressed interest in taking over operations. Meanwhile, since the Neiwan Branch Line of the Taiwan Railways Administration began service in November last year, passengers traveling from Dongmen Market to Hsinchu HSR Station can take TRA shuttle buses. Having assessed that conditions are now ripe for both routes to transition to market-based operation, the decision was made to end the joint marketing arrangement. As for the “Taichung Station Dali Children’s Art Museum Line,” which has offered transfer services since June 1, 2011, passenger volume has remained consistently low, so the joint marketing will also be terminated.
The fare structures and pricing for the three routes where free shuttle services are being canceled will be implemented after approval 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 operators of the respective bus routes.
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