Pay honestly when boarding and alighting by swiping your card—Kaohsiung Light Rail adopts an honor system like an honesty shop.

▲ Kaohsiung Circular Light Rail Mass Rapid Transit. (Photo / Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Bureau)

Reporter Lai Wen-hsuan / Taipei Report

Kaohsiung Light Rail is scheduled to begin trial operations on the 16th. During this period, the public can ride for free by swiping their EasyCard—each person must use one card, and sharing is not allowed. Those without an EasyCard will be refused boarding. And in the future, ridingthe light rail will follow an honor-based payment system, where passengers swipe their cards upon boarding and alighting, much like an honesty shop. The Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation also stated that there will be ticket-checking mechanisms in place, along with high fines, reminding the public not to test the law.

Kaohsiung Light Rail has had a bumpy journey but finally obtained operational approval from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications on the 1st, with trial operations beginning on the 16th. The light rail features open platforms, with no station staff outside the stations, and passengers must press buttons themselves before boarding and alighting. The fare collection method will adopt an honor system,with multi-card readers installed at both platforms and train carriages.

▲ Testing of EasyCard readers at Kaohsiung Light Rail stations. (Photo / Authorized by JR Chen’s Transportation World fan page)

Some netizens have questioned whether the honor-based payment system is really feasible? KRTC responded that they believe passengers will honestly swipe and pay when riding, but just in case, ticket-checking mechanisms are still in place, andstaff will randomly check tickets using mobile validators. Those caught without swiping their card will be fined 50 times the fare.

KRTC also stated that through the trial operation riding activities, besides helping the public familiarize themselves with the process, it also allows general road users to understand and comply as early as possible with the shared road space formed by light rail crossings, while enabling relevant units to accumulate related support experience early on. Additionally, the public is reminded thateating and drinking are prohibited inside light rail carriages, just like on the metro. If bringing pets into the carriage, they must be placed in a pet carrier. Bicycle riding is also not permitted during the trial period. KRTC has announced thatthe second batch of trial rides (October 25–October 31) will open for reservations starting on the 19th.

First Batch of Trial Rides for Kaohsiung Circular Light Rail

First Batch Trial Period:October 16 to 24
First Batch Registration Period: October 8 to noon on October 14
Registration Method: Online (goo.gl/rfi4aY) or by phone at (07) 7939 676
Registration Fee:Free, but you must bring an EasyCard to swipe (no deduction) for boarding

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