This guide will teach you how to take the Taiwan High-Speed Rail (AKA bullet train). Keep reading to learn how to take it and whether it’s worth riding.
I’ve ridden the Taiwan HSR many times and highly recommend it to tourists or expats. Thus, I created this guide to help you maximize your journey on Taiwan’s fastest train.
Table of Contents
Important Information for Travelers
| Is Taiwan High Speed Rail 24 Hours? | No |
| Operation Times | 5:50 AM – 12 AM daily |
| Free Wi-Fi Network | THSR_freeWIFI_ALL |
| Power Outlets? | Yes, only in Cars 4 and 12 |
| Amenities | Toilets, vending machines, breastfeeding rooms, AED |
| Peak Times | 8 AM – 11 AM |
| 5 – 8 PM | |
| 1 – 8 PM (Saturday) |
Every Taiwan HSR station offers plenty of English signage and has English-speaking staff.
Here’s How to Book the Taiwan High-Speed Rail
The following sections won’t explain the specific processes of ordering tickets through each of the payment methods.
That would require a lot of words and will be in a separate guide.
I’ll use the following sections to explain where to buy tickets, how to book them, and additional tips.
Let’s dive in.
Where Do I Buy Taiwan High-Speed Rail Tickets?
Here are the different routes you’d take to buy HSR tickets:
- KLOOK or KKday: Easiest and sometimes the cheapest.
- Official HSR Website: Accepts foreign credit cards.
- T Express App: Does not accept foreign credit cards.
- At Convenience Stores: Most inconvenient route.
- Any HSR Station: Better for spontaneous trips.
Ordering through KLOOK or KKday is the easiest — and sometimes cheapest — way to get Taiwan high-speed rail tickets.
At the time of writing, both sites offer 15% off.
Then, you could stack the initial discount with:
- Your credit card reward points
- Discounts when ordering through their app the first time
- KLOOK and KKday offer 5% off your first app booking
- Freebies
- Builds platform-specific points you can exchange for rewards (sometimes discounts)
- Money saved on currency conversions and ATM fees
Once you purchase the tickets on either site, you’ll redeem your ticket at any HSR station.
You can’t redeem KLOOK/KKday tickets through the T Express app.
The cheapest way to get tickets is through one of the booking methods with the early bird discount (10, 20, or 35% off):
- THSR official website
- T Express App
- Convenience stores
The discount you get will depend on whether you book during peak hours, discount availability, travel date, and time of booking. Thus, you’re not guaranteed a discount.
I recommend first trying to see if you can get the 35% discount.
If not, then opt for KKday or KLOOK.
If you book online, you can pay with foreign credit cards (unless it’s American Express). And then redeem your ticket through the T Express app (e-ticket) or convenience store.
Redeeming tickets at these stores also have a NT$10 handling fee.
Should you buy them from convenience stores?
Nope.
All Taiwan’s convenience stores have kiosks that allow you to pre-order HSR tickets. The most popular examples include 7-Eleven’s iBon and Family Mart’s FamiPort.
These machines don’t have an English interface for ordering tickets. And you’ll typically need to pay handling fees.
If you insist on getting tickets from these stores, use the camera feature on Google Translate.
I explain in a separate guide what language and settings to set up to use this app in Taiwan.
You’ll also probably want to pre-translate what tickets you want (reserved vs. non-reserved) and stations you want to go to and from (e.g., Banqiao to Tainan).
I’d do this through Google Translate or a large language model like ChatGPT.
If you don’t read my Google Translate guide, ensure all translations are in traditional Chinese characters.
Many Taiwanese people (from my experience) cannot read simplified characters.
Is it a good idea to buy a ticket from the HSR station?
Not really.
This route is best for spontaneous trips.
Typically, the lines for the booth aren’t that long. You walk up to the window and tell the staff whether you want a reserved or non-reserved ticket.
In my experience, all the ticket booth staff spoke English.
If you don’t want to engage with people, walk up to an HSR kiosk and buy your ticket. These machines do have an English user interface and typically have no lines.
If you don’t have an ARC (think of it as a Green Card) or Taiwanese passport, you’re in luck.
Let’s Talk About the TSHR Pass. Is It Worth Getting?
- How Much is the Taiwan High-Speed Rail Pass: NT$1,100 – NT$3,600
The TSHR Pass is worth getting if you need to take at least more than 1 HSR trip daily. Before booking your HSR ticket, you should also check whether getting the pass will be cheaper than buying a multiple-destination (or roundtrip) ticket.
The TSHR Pass is a group of passes that allow unlimited usage of the Taiwan High-Speed Rail.
This pass is only available to foreigners WITHOUT an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) or a Taiwan passport.
Let’s compare the different passes:
| Pass Type | Price | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Pass | Adult: NT$2,200 | Unlimited rides for 3 consecutive days. |
| Child: NT$1,100 | ||
| Flexible 2-Day Pass | Adult: NT$2,500 | Unlimited rides on any 2 days of a 7-day period. |
| Child: NT$1,250 | ||
| TSHR & TRA Joint Pass | ||
| 5-Day Standard Joint Pass | Adult: NT$2,800 | Refer to the definition below. |
| Child: NT$1,400 | ||
| 5-Day Premium Joint Pass | Adult: NT$3,600 | Refer to the definition below. |
| Child: NT$1,800 | ||
Notes:
- The TSHR defines a “child” as a kid who’s aged 6 – 12 years old.
- Kids under 6 years old who don’t require a seat don’t need any HSR pass.
- The TSHR passes are only for Standard Class.
The Taiwan Railway Association (TRA) is a much slower train that covers more cities throughout the country.
You’ll want to take this train to get around some cities or to different towns on Taiwan’s east coast.
The TSHR/TRA Joint Pass 5-Day Standard pass allows unlimited HSR rides for any 2 days within a specific 5-day period. You also get unlimited rides for 5 days on the following TRA train types:
- Chu-Kuang Express (unoccupied seat)
- Fu-Hsing Semi Express (unoccupied seat)
These are the slower TRA trains that have a lot of stops.
The only difference with the 5-day Premium Joint Pass is that it allows you on the trains above in addition to:
- Tze-Chiang Limited Express: Fastest regular train
- EMU3000: Business car, but you don’t get business seats
- Taroko Express: Fastest, non-HSR train
- Puyuma Express: Fastest, non-HSR train
And here’s the coverage of these cars:
It sucks that people with an ARC (myself included) can’t use the pass. But I suppose that would lose the TSHR a lot of money.
Let’s discuss specific about booking tickets.
How to Book Your HSR Ticket
The process of ordering tickets will vary depending on the purchase method used.
When choosing a ticket, you’ll pick between Standard or Business Class.
Business Class on Taiwan High-Speed Rail offers more space, larger seats, and extra legroom. It provides complimentary snacks, drinks, and newspapers.
The Business Car costs almost double the price, though.
In a test booking from Taipei to Zuoying, the prices were as follows:
- Business Car: NT$2,440
- Standard Car: NT$1,490
Standard Class provides comfortable seating with good legroom but fewer perks. It includes access to onboard dining services for purchase.
Usually, the platforms and HSR ticket booths automatically reserve seats for you if you book reserved seats.
Whether you can go in and adjust the seat reservation will depend on the platform you buy through.
Here are other tips you should know.
Additional Tips & Information
Under the FAQs, I’ll discuss refunds, cancellations, seat changes, and what to do if you miss your car.
This section will focus on luggage storage, discounts, and frequent rider programs.
Can You Bring Your Luggage on the TSHR?
Yes, you can bring luggage onto the Taiwan High-Speed Rail.
Every cart will have luggage storage available. However. It’s first-come, first-serve.
I recommend checking out the HSR website’s car map to know where the luggage storage is beforehand. That way, you’ll know where to rush to when getting on the train.
Here’s an example of what the map looks like:
You can store luggage that’s 59 inches (150 cm) in length and less than 88 lbs (40 kg) in weight. You can also store some animals in containers with dimensions of 55 cm.
The luggage storage rules are a bit complex. I recommend reading their website for the most up-to-date information.
Now that luggage is out of the way, let’s see what discounts you can get.
TSHR Discounts
Here are all the discounts that the TSHR offers:
- The following discounts are only available to Taiwanese folks:
- Seniors aged 65 or over get 50% off their ticket.
- Mentally and physically disabled people get 50% off their ticket.
- Those enrolled in Taiwanese universities can get 12%, 25%, or 50% off with a student ID.
- Children ages 12 and under — or shorter than 3’ 9” (115 cm) get 50% off.
- If children are taller than 4’ 11” (150 cm), they must present an ID/passport.
- Groups of 11 or more people get discounts, but the HSR site doesn’t specify the amount.
A note regarding college student discounts.
The amount you’ll get for the student discount will vary by station. Check out the TSHR’s university discount page for more information on qualifying institutions and what discount you’ll get.
You might wonder, “do they offer any memberships?”
Yes.
Frequent Ridership Program.
The Frequent Ridership Program by Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSRC) offers a “Multi-Ride Ticket” for regular travelers. This ticket allows multiple rides at a discounted rate compared to single-ride tickets.
For instance, you’ll get 8% off for 8 rides within 60 days or 18% off for 10 rides within 30 days.
The ticket is valid for non-reserved seats only and has a specified validity period from the first use. Users must complete their journey within a certain time frame and ensure the card is in good condition.
This is only available in the Chinese version of the app.
Then there’s the TGo membership.
TGo is Taiwan High-Speed Rail’s membership program. Members can earn points through ticket purchases for discounts, exclusive offers, and other perks.
The website is only available in Chinese and focuses on the locals [1].
Thus, I won’t expand on it.
I will expand on navigating the train’s platforms.
How to Take the Train
You’ll head to the platforms once you get your ticket and pass the gate.
You will see many of these signs:
Look at this sign to ensure you’re on the right platform.
Once you find the platform and car, you’ll wait behind this yellow line and within the red lines.
For the love of God, don’t cross the yellow line. Otherwise, you’ll probably end up splattered on the front of the train when it arrives.
Once the train arrives, wait for everyone to get off, get on the train, and find your seat. If you have a non-reserved ticket, you must find an empty seat in the assigned car.
From there, sit back (or stand) and wait until the train reaches your destination.
In my experience, every HSR ride has been smooth with little train turbulence. A much better experience than I’ve had with flying.
Let’s see where you should take the HSR to.
Where to Take the Taiwan High-Speed Rail: Day Trip Ideas
Here’s a list of different cities I’d take the HSR to and in what scenarios:
- Kaohsiung: Best for nice days when it’s not too hot.
- Tainan: Best for history buffs.
- Taichung: Pretty easy to get around and more like Taipei.
- Taipei: Best overall. It balances indoor and outdoor attractions.
- New Taipei (Banqiao): Better for outdoor attractions; however, it’s adjacent to Taipei.
If I were a traveler staying in Taipei/New Taipei/Taoyuan, I’d take a day trip to Kaohsiung — so long as the weather’s good.
The Fo Guan Shan Monastery is an amazing site that you won’t find elsewhere in the country.
Pier 2 is also a fantastic place to walk around. There is lots of art and shops.
Kaohsiung is also much easier to get around thanks to the light rail transit (LRT) and mass rapid transit (MRT).
For less convenient places, you’d rent a YouBike or take an Uber or taxi.
Here’s what I’d do in Kaohsiung in a day:
- Leave as early in the morning as I can and nap or eat breakfast on the train.
- Take the bus from the HSR station to Fo Guan Shan.
- Head back to the city and get lunch.
- Visit the Dream Mall for a couple hours to avoid the midday heat.
- Head to Love Pier, maybe take a boat tour, and walk around the pier.
- Eat dinner.
- Peruse the HSR station for souvenirs.
- Head back north.
Tainan doesn’t have the luxury of public transportation. They have buses and taxis but no rapid transit system.
Thus, I wouldn’t recommend visiting unless you really want to see historical places. Or if you have a local friend who can drive you around.
The outer area of Taichung is easy to get around with a combination of the Taichung MRT and the Taiwal Railway Association.
Anyway.
Here’s what I’d do in Taichung:
- Again, leave as early as possible and eat on the train.
- Take a series of buses to Gaomei Wetlands.
- Head back to the city and eat lunch.
- Hide inside the National Taichung Theater to avoid the midday sun.
- If I get bored, I’d head to the nearby Shin Kong Mitsukoshi (mall).
- Take the MRT and local train to the National Taiwan Museum of Comics.
- It doesn’t actually have comic books.
- Take the train to Miyahara, an ice cream shop and historical location.
- Walk along the river until it’s night.
- Head to Zhonghua Road or Yizhong Street night markets.
- You could head to Fengjia Night Market, but it’s inconvenient to reach.
- Head back north.
Most other cities along the HSR route are inconvenient to get around and would require staying in for more than a day.
Is taking the HSR really the best way to get around Taiwan?
Taking the TSHR vs. the TRA vs. Metro
The TSHR is pricier than the TRA but takes close to half the time to reach its destination. Making it a superior option for folks with a higher budget who want to make the most out of their time in Taiwan. The metros are only available in Taipei, New Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Taichung.
I’ll return to talking about the metro in a second.
First, let’s compare various journeys of the Taiwan High-Speed Rail versus the TRA:
| Trip | TRA | HSR | ||
| Travel Time | Price | Travel Time | Price (Standard) | |
| Taipei > Taichung | 2 hr 1 min | NT$375 | 47 – 60 min | NT$700 |
| Taipei > Chiayi | 3 hr 42 min | NT$598 | 1.27 – 1.43 hr | NT$1,080 |
| Taipei > Tainan | 4 hr 32 min | NT$738 | 1.46 – 2 hrs | NT$1,350 |
| Taipei > Zuoying (Kaohsiung) | 5 hr 8 min | NT$843 | 1.34 – 2.14 hrs | NT$1,490 |
Notes:
- HSR fees are for Standard Cars.
- TRA cars tested for this table are Tze-Chiang Express cars (the fastest ones).
- The TRA trip to Kaohsiung is to Kaohsiung Station, but Zuoying.
- The prices for the HSR will vary by time and whether there’s a discount available.
There’s a lot more nuance than what’s on the table.
For instance, some trains to Kaohsiung for the TRA took 3.42 hours.
But I included the averages.
Taipei and New Taipei Cities have the most comprehensive metro system, which goes through most of each city and places you near most major tourist attractions.
Kaohsiung mixes the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) to navigate the city. They don’t have nearly as many stations as Taiwan’s main cities, but it’s better than no metro.
Taichung’s MRT creates a circle around half of the city.
You must take the local train (TRA) to navigate the other half.
From there, you’ll need to walk, ride a YouBike, take the bus, or a taxi to get around the central part of the city.
Rules & Etiquette for Traveling
Follow these rules to avoid causing any trouble on the Taiwan HSR:
- Don’t chew betel nuts or smoke.
- Animals must be kept in containers.
- Keep devices on silent mode.
- Don’t speak loudly.
- Don’t take your shoes off.
What’s the Food Situation Like & Can I Bring My Own?
You can bring food and drink on board the Taiwan HSR. The only rule regarding food is to not eat “smelly” food.
They don’t provide additional details.
I’d imagine that smelly foods would include stinky tofu, durians, etc.
Every seat will also have a small table with a not-so-good drink holder in front of it.
Make sure you deal with your trash to prevent the HSR from banning food in the future. There are trash and recycling bins at the entrance of every car.
If you don’t bring your own food and are hungry, a person will come around with a cart and sell food and drinks.
Think of it like a flight attendant who walks up and down plane aisles.
I can’t find the prices for the paid food. And I’ve never bought any food. I always get cheap snacks from the convenience stores in the HSR station and bring the food on board.
Where Can I Travel on the Taiwan High-Speed Rail?
Here are all the different stations you can travel to on the Taiwan High-Speed Rail:
| Station Name (EN) | Name (ZH) | City |
|---|---|---|
| Nangang HSR Station | 南港 | Taipei City |
| Taipei HSR Station | 台北 / 臺北 | Taipei City |
| Banqiao HSR Station | 板橋 | New Taipei City |
| Taoyuan HSR Station | 桃園 | Taoyuan City |
| Hsinchu HSR Station | 新竹 | Hsinchu City |
| Miaoli HSR Station | 苗栗 | Miaoli City |
| Taichung HSR Station | 台中 | Taichung City |
| Changhua HSR Station | 彰化 | Changhua |
| Yunlin HSR Station | 雲林 | Yunlin |
| Chiayi HSR Station | 嘉義 | Chiayi |
| Tainan HSR Station | 台南 / 臺南 | Tainan City |
| Zuoying HSR Station | 左營 | Kaohsiung |
My Tips for Taking the HSR
Here are my tips (and tidbits) to consider when taking the Taiwan High-Speed Rail:
- Here’s how to read letters for seats on your ticket:
- “A” and “E”: Always window seats
- “C” and “D”: Always aisle seats
- “B”: Middle seats
- Explore the HSR stations for souvenir shops and food.
- Charge your devices before entering the train.
- Not all cars have power outlets.
- Book as far in advance as possible to get discounts.
- If you need to take the HSR multiple days in a row, get the TSHR Pass.
- Avoid wearing Crocs or flip-flops in case of an emergency requiring you to exit the train quickly.
I also recommend checking the Travel Information page on the TSHR site to ensure the train is on schedule. That way, you can prepare yourself for any inconveniences.
What Is the Taiwan High-Speed Rail?
The Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR) is a high-speed rail system that connects major cities along the western coast of Taiwan. It covers a distance of 350 kilometers (217 miles). Inaugurated in 2007, the THSR uses Japanese Shinkansen technology and operates trains that can reach speeds up to 300 km/h (186 mph).
It’s been a game-changer.
Imagine zipping from Taipei to Kaohsiung in just 96 minutes.
Before the THSR, this journey could take up to 6 hours by car or regular train.
And let’s talk about the trains themselves.
They’re sleek, comfy, and packed with amenities. Wi-Fi, food service, spacious seats — it’s like flying, but on the ground.
TSHR History
Construction on the Taiwan High-Speed Rail started in March 2000. The first train was unveiled in 2004 in Kobe, Japan. In 2006, THSRC also launched a new corporate identity and secured additional financing.
Commercial operations commenced between Banqiao and Zuoying stations in January 2007. Full operations from Taipei to Kaohsiung began in March 2007. Non-reserved seats were introduced in November 2007.
THSRC carried its 100 millionth passenger in 2010. New ticketing systems and multi-ride tickets were introduced in 2010. Convenience store ticketing launched in 2011.
The mobile ticketing app T Express launched in 2012. THSRC carried its 200 millionth passenger that year. New train sets arrived from Japan in 2012-2013.
Three new stations in Miaoli, Changhua and Yunlin opened in 2015. THSRC became a publicly listed company in 2016. The 400 millionth passenger was carried in 2016.
THSRC launched the TGo membership program in 2017. The 600 millionth passenger traveled in 2020. THSRC obtained ISO certifications for environmental and information security management in 2020.
Taiwan HSR Fun Facts
Here are some “fun” facts about the Taiwan High-Speed Rail [2]:
- It had 73,086,668 total riders in 2023.
- Much higher than the 54,162,008 in 2022 (around 234% of Taiwan’s population).
- Japan’s Shinkansen had 295 million riders in 2022 (around 236% of Japan’s population).
- The Taiwan high-speed rail has had no crashes.
- The last major “incident” was when an earthquake damaged the tracks on February 6th, 2016, but no accidents happened.
- The HSR has a 99% punctuality rate with an average delay time of 0.287 minutes (as of 2021).
- The highest recorded punctuality rate was 99.88% in 2019.
- There have been 0 casualties on the TSHR so far.
- It ranks among the top 5% of companies listed in the Corporate Governance Evaluation.
- It’s a system designed to improve accountability, investor confidence, and transparency.
- Government agencies own 45.1% of the TSHRC’s shares as of March 2022.
- The Taiwan High-Speed Rail’s total cost was NT$513.3 billion in 1998.
- 25,702,330,000 operating costs in 2021, a 0.23% decrease from 2019.
- 100% reliability rate.
| How Fast is the HSR? | 186 mph (200 kph) top speeds |
| Train Capacity | Business Car: 66 Seats |
| Standard Cars: 911 seats | |
| Number of Stations | 12 |
| Number of Lines | 1 |
| Chinese Name | 台灣高鐵 (Táiwān gāotiě) |
Here’s a chart with the stats on Taiwan’s HSR yearly ridership usage:
FAQs
Can I Use an EasyCard for the HSR?
Only co-branded EasyCards can be used for the HSR. Regular EasyCards, iPASS, and similar cards won’t work. Co-branded cards are available only to Taiwan residents.
How Do I Cancel My HSR Reservation?
You can cancel tickets up to 30 minutes before departure online or at any THSR station. Online cancellations incur a NT$20 fee per ticket, with refunds processed to your credit card in 7-15 business days. At stations, show your booking ID and reservation number. For convenience store or T Express-collected tickets, check the website for refund instructions.
What Do I Do if I Miss the HSR Train?
If you miss your Taiwan HSR train, your ticket remains valid for the same day and route. You can board any later HSR train to your original destination, but you’ll forfeit your reserved seat. You must use the non-reserved cars, where seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. No refund or exchange is possible for missed trains.
How Do I Change My Seats in the HSR?
You can’t change your seat on Standard Class tickets. Business Class customers can change their seats by modifying their bookings online or through the Taiwan High-Speed Rail’s website. After payment but before collection, you can change your trip once for free or cancel at least 30 minutes before departure.
Is Taking the HSR Cheaper Than Flying?
It’s much cheaper to take the Taiwan HSR than to fly between different airports. For instance, a flight from Taipei Songshan Airport to Kaohsiung International Airport would cost more than NT$4,000. Taking an HSR between the same cities would cost NT$1,490.
Why Are High-Speed Rails So Expensive in Taiwan?
High-speed rails in Taiwan are expensive due to several factors. Some include the high cost of construction, advanced technology required for the system, and low ridership compared to other countries with high-speed rail networks.
Sources
- TGo. TSHR (Chinese only)
- Taiwan High-Speed Rail Sustainability Report. TSHRC. 2021 (PDF)
