TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's transportation authorities are mobilizing extensive resources to manage the massive crowds expected for one of the island's most significant religious events this weekend. Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) revealed Wednesday (May 7) that 70 shuttle buses will connect Gongtian Temple (拱天宮) and the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR, 台灣高鐵) Miaoli Station for the culmination of the Baishatun Mazu (白沙屯媽祖) pilgrimage, a revered 10-day religious procession that began last Thursday.
The transportation chief emphasized that shuttle services will run at 10-minute intervals throughout Sunday, with officials projecting a minimum of 230 total trips to accommodate pilgrims and spectators. The religious celebration's coincidence with Mother's Day has compelled both Taiwan Railway (台鐵), the island's conventional rail service, and the high-speed rail system to bolster their schedules. High-speed rail authorities have already designated a supplementary train to address the expected influx of passengers.
According to data from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC, 交通部), Taiwan's national transportation authority, hourly train service to Miaoli Station will operate during peak morning hours from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and throughout the afternoon and evening from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Each hourly window will feature two trains traveling in both directions. Transportation officials have also prepared contingency plans for supplementary services should passenger volumes exceed current projections. ★