This guide will explain everything you could want to know about Kaohsiung’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and Light Rapid Transit (LRT). Keep reading to learn more.
My wife and I took the Kaohsiung MRT and LRT a lot while we were in this city for our anniversary. Since there aren’t any other guides, I figured I’d make one.
It’s self-explanatory to use. However. There are some areas that I wish I had information for.
Key Takeaways
- Tickets cost NT$20 – 60 for a one-way trip.
- You’ll need to transfer between the LRT and MRT a lot.
- You can use digital wallets (e.g., Apple Pay), IC cards, and other payment methods to enter.
Important Information
| MRT Operating Hours | 6 AM – 12 AM |
| Free Wi-Fi | iFun Kaohsiung |
The times the first and last trains will arrive will differ from the normal operating hours.
Check the KRTC timetable for the stations you’re traveling to and from for more information.
All the information is in English.
The trains are punctual. Don’t be late to the station.
Here’s where to find information, purchase / top-up cards, and ask questions regarding Kaohsiung’s MRT:
These are at every KMRT station.
LRT & MRT Maps
Here’s how to interpret the map:
- Orange Line: Kaohsiung MRT
- Red Line: Kaohsiung MRT
- Green Line: Kaohsiung LRT
Payment Methods
You can use an EasyCard to take the Kaohsiung MRT and LRT. I recommend doing this since the card is usable throughout all of Taiwan.
Here are the other ways you can pay:
- Contactless cards: Most efficient payment method if you use the MRT more than once.
- EasyCard: Most popular smart card in Taiwan.
- Adult, student, Children, Welfare, and co-branded credit/debit cards.
- iPASS: A card most people don’t use.
- Adult, student, Children, Welfare, and co-branded credit/debit cards.
- iCash 2.0: IC card that generates rewards through Uni-President-managed stores.
- Adult, Concessionaire, student, co-branded credit cards.
- EasyCard: Most popular smart card in Taiwan.
- Single-use token: Buy at the metro stations via kiosks or customer service booths.
- Only ideal if you use the Taipei Metro once or twice on your trip.
- Credit card:
- Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, and UnionPay
- Wallet Apps:
- Apple Pay
- Samsung Pay / Samsung Wallet
- Google Pay / Google Wallet
I compare the various contactless cards in a separate piece.
The easiest way to get an EasyCard is to order online and pick it up.
Here are some places you can get it:
Commuter Passes
The following passes are available:
| Pass | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 24hr | NT$180 | 1-day stays |
| 48hr | NT$280 | 2-day stays |
| TPASS X MeN Go pass | NT$399 | Unlimited ferry, bus, MRT, LRT, inter- and inner-city bus use for 30 days |
| NT$999 | The same as the above, but for Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, and Tainan City |
All of these passes work for the Kaohsiung MRT and LRT.
The TPASS is more of a thing for the locals. However. If you’re going to be in Kaohsiung for around a month, I’d consider it.
If you don’t have an ARC (ID card for foreigners) and will be taking the HSR and TRA frequently to and from Kaohsiung, consider the Joint Pass.
I discuss the details in a High Speed Rail guide.
I just realized that KKday and KLOOK have passes available online — albeit a bit pricier for the 24-hour one.
This would have been nice to know because I could have accumulated KKday points and gotten cashback from my card.
Don’t make the same mistake. If you know how long you’ll be in Kaohsiung, save time and get the passes online:
There’s also the Kaohsiung KLOOK Pass. This gives you the 48-hour pass and discounts on admissions to some attractions throughout the city.
I don’t find any value in the pass. Though, you might. It depends on what you want to see.
The physical commuter passes have cute pictures of anime girls. If you’re a weeaboo and want a souvenir, get the physical ones.
You’ll need to visit a service counter to buy these.
Finding MRT & LRT Stations
The signs look the same. However, every LRT station is outside. There’s no way to miss them.
Congratulations.
You found the station. Now, learn how to use the train.
How to Use the LRT & MRT
The following sections will clear up any confusion on using Kaohsiung’s MRT and LRT.
Let’s dive in.
Using the LRT
Enter the LRT “station” by tapping your card on this sensor and passing the yellow line:
If you don’t have an EasyCard, iPASS, or iCash 2.0 — you need to pay by cash — you’ll need to walk in and buy a ticket at the machine.
From there, you wait for your train…
Once it arrives, wait for the people who want to leave to depart, then enter. Pay attention to the announcements and the LED screen (which is also in English) for your stop.
And when it’s time to get off, you’ll need to press this button on the door once the train stops:
When I was in Kaohsiung, I didn’t know the exact timing. I just waited until other people pressed it.
And once you leave the cart, you’ll tap your card on the gate again and walk through:
How to Take the MRT in Kaohsiung
If you have an IC card, skip this first step, which requires you to buy a single-journey ticket token from one of these kiosks:
If this machine’s too confusing, or if it has issues, walk up to one of the information booths that I recommended.
Once you have your ticket, or card, walk up to one of these gates:
Tap your card or token on the sensor, then the doors will open. If this doesn’t work, you’ll need to talk to the information booth staff.
If you’re using mobile wallets (e.g., Apple Pay), look for the gate with the NFC sensor on it.
None of the gates in the picture above have them. These are only for IC cards.
Once you pass the gates, you’ll make your way to the platform. I don’t know which direction you’re going. The cart that you take depends on the station you’re navigating to. Use the MRT map to help you.
From there, wait for the MRT cart behind the yellow line and door:
During peak hours, you’ll need to line up.
Please, for the love of God, do this. Taiwanese people are very organized with their queuing. Don’t be the foreigner who thinks they’re too good for lines.
KMRT & KLRT Etiquette
Taipei’s and Taichung’s MRTs have different-colored seats to make it easy to know not to sit in particular seats (visually).
Kaohsiung didn’t take the design approach.
If you see seats with signs saying “priority seating” above them, don’t sit in them unless you’re old, pregnant, disabled, or a mother with a newborn.
Also:
Stand on the right side of the escalator. And let people who are walking pass you on the left side.
Think of it like a multi-lane road in countries where you drive on the right side.
The left lanes are for passing. The right are for normal driving — in this case, standing.
The locals don’t follow this rule as much as in Taipei. But it’s etiquette you should get used to when in Taiwan.
Otherwise:
- Don’t eat, drink, or chew anything once you pass the payment gate.
- If you have a portable, non-powered folding bicycle, you must fold the bike before entering the cart.
Here are some other fun facts about the MRT and LRT.
Fun Facts
| How Fast is the Kaohsiung MRT? | Max operating speed: 80 km/h |
| Number of Lines | MRT: 2 |
| LRT: 1 | |
| Number of Stations | 76 |
| Chinese Name | 高雄捷運; gāoxióng jié yùn |
Kaohsiung Metro Statistics
Here are some statistics for the Kaohsiung MRT [1]:
- A total of 4.9 million people rode the Kaohsiung MRT in July 2024.
- An average of 159,228 people rode daily.
- K.R.T. Girls bought NT$2 million in revenue the first 7 months of selling merchandise.
- More than 46.13 people rode the Kaohsiung Metro in 2022.
Kaohsiung Metro Anime Characters: A Fun Rabbit Hole
Literally the night before I wrote this post, I found this fun picture with a person who looks like the anime character Frieren:
I decided to dive a bit deeper and my god these characters have more lore than I thought they would.
Here’s one of the character bio pages for their character, Yaddle (not from Star Wars). They have her star sign, blood type, birthdate, favorite hobbies, and more.
It seems like K.R.T. Girls, characters drawn in a moe(ish) art style, were introduced in 2014. It began with 4 girls, now there are 7.
Then they expanded it to:
- U!FU Family: Cute critters
- K.R.T. Boys: 2 dudes
- Kaohsiung Metro Love Travel (高捷戀): A “travel game” the Kaohsiung MRT Corporation developed jointly with Toii Inc.
- Additional designs on the Chinese site
If you go down this rabbit hole, check out the Chinese side of the site. The designs get much wilder. For instance, they have cats with jetpacks and MRT carts transformed into spaceships with turrets…
The KRTC used these girls for merchandising and to have cute mascots.
Because everything must be cute in Taiwan.
Despite seeing these characters everywhere, and the merchandising efforts behind them, I couldn’t find any souvenirs.
And that’s because I didn’t look into where the souvenir store was ahead of time.
Here’s the address: B1, No. 115, Zhongshan 1st Road, Xinxing District, Kaohsiung City
Here’s a guide with other cool buys you’ll find in Kaohsiung.
It’s at the Formosa Boulevard MRT Station.
Let’s end things with some FAQs.
FAQs
What is the Kaohsiung Public Transport App?
Bus+ is the best app to use for tracking and pricing all public transportation types in Kaohsiung. Kaohsiung doesn’t have dedicated public transportation apps like Taipei.
Sources
- Statistics. KRTC. 8/08/2024. Source is in Chinese. PDF.
