TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan Railways Corporation (TRC, 台鐵公司), the island's national railway operator recently transformed from a government agency into a state-owned corporation, announced Monday (May 5) that it will implement comprehensive schedule adjustments starting June 26, affecting 386 train services nationwide. Among these, 188 services will experience time changes of five minutes or more. The modifications aim to enhance passenger capacity and operational efficiency across Taiwan's extensive rail network.
The Taipei-Taichung line, a major north-central corridor connecting Taiwan's capital with its third-largest city, will gain two additional express trains each Saturday between the northern port city of Keelung and centrally-located Changhua. On the scenic Taipei-Taitung eastern route, two more express trains will be added, leveraging the recently completed Qingshui River Bridge (小清水溪橋) reconstruction to reduce travel time between Taipei and the popular tourist destination of Hualien.
The company will also expand capacity on the busy Keelung-Hsinchu northern commuter route, with 22 local trains upgrading from eight to 10 cars per train. Also, a new EMU900 model local train, Taiwan's latest passenger train series, will operate between Zhongli and Qidu during morning rush hours, increasing overall capacity in northern Taiwan by 4.4%. In central Taiwan, passenger capacity will grow by 5.8% through adjustments to 18 local trains, made possible by recently completed station infrastructure upgrades. Weekend and holiday travelers will benefit as two local express trains extend their service routes from Qidu all the way to Xinzuoying (新左營) in southern Taiwan.
Taiwan Railways Corporation advises passengers to check updated train schedules on its official website starting May 9 to prepare for the upcoming changes. The railway operator will open group bookings for the new schedule on May 23, with general ticket sales for individual travelers beginning May 29, giving passengers nearly a month to adjust their travel plans before the implementation date. ★