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Taiwan by Train

Trains - Tickets - Routes
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A Travel Guide For Train Travel In Taiwan.

Here you will find information for Taiwan about trains, routes, tours, connections, where to buy train tickets, and more.

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Useful Information

Population: 23.78 million

Currency: New Taiwan Dollar

Language: Hakka, Mandarin

Capital: Taipei

Country Code: +886

Time Zone: China Standard Time (CST)

Train Companies

The rail network in Taiwan is operated by two companies. Taiwan Railways operates the freight and passenger railway. The high-speed trains are operated by Taiwan High-Speed Rail.

Taiwan Rail Map

Copyright: RAILWAYHERO

Train Tickets

Buy your train tickets for Taiwan on the Taiwan High-Speed Rail official homepage.

Buy your cheap train tickets for Indonesia online at 12Go.

Rail Passes

Taiwan Highspeed Rail Pass

Take the train across the Taiwanese island. The THRS Pass allows you unlimited riding with the High-Speed Rails in Taiwan.

TrAIN tYPES

Mass Rapid Transit Systems (MRT) operate in Taipei and Kaohsiung

Chu-kuang (莒光; Jǔguāng) & Fu-hsing (復興; Fùxīng) are operated by TRA

  • No reservations required
  • Mos common train in the country
  • Cheaper than express trains, quite comfortable

Local Train (區間車; Qūjiānchē) serves the country like commuter trains and is operated by TRA

  • Cheap and stops frequently
  • No reservations required, nor possible

Tze-chiang (自強; Zìqiáng)  are express trains operated by TRA

  • More expensive than Chu-kuang, Fu-hsing, and local trains
  • No reservations required but recommended on weekends and holidays
  • At-seat refreshment service is available

Taroko Express (太魯閣; Tàilǔgé) is a Tze-chiang tilting train connecting Taipei to Hualien in two hours.

  • No reservations required but recommended on weekends and holidays
  • No standing-room tickets available

Puyuma Express (普悠瑪; Pǔyōumǎ) is a Tze-chiang, fast tilting train reaching up to 150 km/h.

  • No reservations required but recommended on weekends and holidays
  • No standing-room tickets available

Hint for TRA trains:
1. Tickets go on sale online 14 days in advance.
2. After booking your ticket online, take your booking number to any station or a kiosk inside a 7-Eleven (Chinese only) to pay within two days of booking.
3. Don’t throw away or lose your ticket, it is necessary to be able to exit the platform at your final destination.

High-Speed Rail (HSR) links Taipei to Kaohsiung in under two hours, half the amount of time compared to a slower TRA train.

  • 3 Classes offered
    • Unreserved economy: Rows of five seats (3+2)
    • Reserved economy: Rows of five seats (3+2)
    • Business: Rows of four seats (2+2)
  • No reservations required but recommended on weekends and holidays*
  • Food and snacks are also available on-board

* = if your desired train is full, HSR runs 3 trains per hour, so you can check the schedule for an alternative time to travel

Hint for HSR trains:
1. Tickets go on sale online 28 days in advance.
2. After booking your ticket online, take your booking number to any station or a kiosk inside a 7-Eleven (Chinese only) to pay within two days of booking.
3. Don’t throw away or lose your ticket, it is necessary to be able to exit the platform at your final destination.

There are no international trains in Taiwan. You can take a plane or a ferry to visit other countries.

There are no night trains in Taiwan.

Alishan Tourist Train
Jiji Tourist Train
Pingxi Tourist Train

Routes

Frequently Travelled Routes In Taiwan

National

 
From > To
Duration (h)
Changes Transport
Taipei to Kaohsiung 2:14 0 High-Speed Train
Taipei to Sankeng 0:40 Direct Train
Taipei to Taitung 3:48-5:45 Direct Train
Taitung to Tainan 2:31 Direct Train

TIP: Taiwan has high-speed trains and slow trains. They also depart from different stations: THSR (high-speed) and TRA (slow). Be aware that high-speed rail stations (THSR) are often located in the outskirts of the city with regular bus connections to the TRA stations. The slow train stations are located often in the heart of the city.

International

 
From > To
Duration (h)
Changes Transport
Keelung to Xiamen, China 14:00 Direct Ferry
Taichung to Fuzhou, China 4:23 3 Ferry & Train

Taiwan travel routes

Taiwan West Coast Trip

Taiwan West Coast Trip

Main Train Stations

  • Taipei Main Station
  • Taichung Station
  • Hsinchu
  • Tainan
  • Zuoying

TIP: Taiwan has high-speed trains and slow trains. They also depart from different stations: THSR (high-speed) and TRA (slow). Be aware that high-speed rail stations (THSR) are often located in the outskirts of the city with regular bus connections to the TRA stations. The slow train stations are located often in the heart of the city.

Train Tours in Taiwan

Good to know

Best Time To Travel To Taiwan

We recommend traveling to Taiwan anytime from the end of September to December. Once the rainy season is over the humidity drops off and the country is full of sunshine, events, and festivals to enjoy! Noteworthy festivals include New Year’s Eve, Double Ten Day, Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival, Lunar New Year, and the Taiwan Hot Air Balloon Festival. Take a ride up the fastest elevator in the world at Taipei 101 for a 360-degree view of the capital, hike in the Central Mountains, peak around the Royal Palace Museum, or eat your way through one of the many night markets … don’t forget the stinky tofu!

Bathe in one of the many natural hot springs, spend a night on a tea farm, visit one of the many religious temples or take a trip to the salt fields. You will be spoilt for choice whether you’re in Taiwan for an adventure holiday, a relaxation trip, or an educational experience, and the best thing being that it’s all connected by train!

 

  • High Season: February and October due to many holidays
  • Low Season: The rest of the year not during the rainy season, or during February and October
  • Rainy Season: June to September

 

Accommodation In Taiwan

Booking

The best place to find cheap hotels for is to book by www.booking.com. There you will find a large selection of cheap hotels, hostels, and apartments. > BOOK HERE

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Hostelworld

If you are looking for a low budget accommodation, then go on www.hostelworld.com. They have the best choice of cheap hostels for backpackers and low budget travelers. > BOOK HERE

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Guidebooks For Taiwan

Travel with a guidebook ease your journey to find best sights and things to do. Buy it on Amazon.

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