TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's state-run railway operator has unveiled its most significant fare increase in over a decade. The Taiwan Railway Corporation (TRC, 台鐵), the island's primary rail service, published a new pricing structure on its website Wednesday (April 23) that reveals substantial increases for its premium Tze-Chiang Limited Express, mid-tier Chu-Kuang Express, and local train services. The popular Taipei-Kaohsiung route on the flagship Tze-Chiang service, for instance, will now cost NT$994 (US$30.58), while the Taipei-Hualien journey will rise to NT$583 (US$17.94).
The substantial price adjustment, which takes effect June 23, will increase average ticket costs by 26.8% across the system. This marks the first major fare revision since the railway transitioned from a government agency to a state-owned corporation last year. The TRC board initially approved the changes on Feb. 5, followed by authorization from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC, 交通部) rate committee on February 21. Officials cite a Legislative Yuan (Taiwan's parliament) approved formula designed to achieve a 0.36% "reasonable return rate." Local train services will see per-kilometer rates rise from NT$1.46 to NT$1.82 (US$0.056).
The mid-tier Chu-Kuang Express service will also see significant increases, with the Taipei-Kaohsiung route rising to NT$767 (US$23.60) and Taipei-Hualien reaching NT$450 (US$13.85). Despite the substantial increases, TRC officials have sought to reassure the public that short-distance commuters and students will be protected through the Executive Yuan's (Taiwan's cabinet) TPASS discount program. The corporation claims longer-distance travelers will face proportionally smaller increases due to the fare structure's decreasing rate formula for extended journeys. ★