Main Topic: The Taiwan Railway

Hosts: James Stanworth , Clyde Warden

While Taiwan is well served by local airports and roads the train makes a perfect choice to move around Taiwan. There are plenty of choice in terms of class and speed. Slow commuter trains stop and all local stations whilst the fast train moves passengers between large cities at a comfortable speed. Multiple trains every hour mean work well for all schedules and mean that on train crowding is rarely uncomfortable. The price too, is reasonable, especially as car travel costs keep rising. Once on a train it will not be long before you hear the invitation to buy a lunch box. They are good value and highly popular. Taiwan rail even sells the original steel lunch box as a souvenir.

Buying tickets is straightfoward with cash a credit card both accepted. However given Taiwan is home to so much technology expertise it is suprising that e-passes (like the Octapus system in Hong Kong) is taking time to be adopted. Each department (e.g., the customer service desk and ticket sales) all operate very independently. So customers are often asked to move around in the train station as they solve any problems they may have. James, for example, seeking a refund on a season ticket started with an enquiry at the customer service desk. That led to a referral to 'ticket window two' who could deal with the problem. Ticket window two could not help but once he reached ticket window eight (who had the required machine) the transaction was quickly dealt with. This lack of interconnection is fairly typical to many Chinese organizations.

Both James and Clyde have seen the train as a second home while travelling up and down, in opposite directions, between Tainan and Taichung. With notebook computers in our luggage the train quickly becomes a productive office space. All that is needed is an internet connection and we could be doing the podcast from the train!

In Taiwan, the train fare is affordable and convenient.

Photos:

• (1) This scooter park, close to the station, charges a daily fee for parking. They will also arrange for your scooter to be transported to another city. (1) This scooter park, close to the station, charges a daily fee for parking. They will also arrange for your scooter to be transported to another city.
• (2) Train station late in the evening is still full of people. The second rush (10 p.m.) is about to start. (2) Train station late in the evening is still full of people. The second rush (10 p.m.) is about to start.
• (3) A long line of ticket windows ensures short wait times. (3) A long line of ticket windows ensures short wait times.
• (4) The train timetable. Be careful not to get on the mountain rather than the sea line! (4) The train timetable. Be careful not to get on the mountain rather than the sea line!
• (5) No smoking is slowly being introduced in public places, like this. (5) No smoking is slowly being introduced in public places, like this.
• (6) Ticket machines... (6) Ticket machines...
• (7) make for an easy quick purchase (7) make for an easy quick purchase
• (8) 7-11 is well positioned to catch the passing traffic. Note the "city cafe" selling coffee on the right. (8) 7-11 is well positioned to catch the passing traffic. Note the "city cafe" selling coffee on the right.
• (9) Take your coffee and it is a short walk to the platform. (9) Take your coffee and it is a short walk to the platform.
• (10) A stamp or seal. If you want to claim expenses stamp your ticket before going through the barrier. (10) A stamp or seal. If you want to claim expenses stamp your ticket before going through the barrier.
• (11) A wall of scooters in one of the many parking places. (11) A wall of scooters in one of the many parking places.
• (12) The taxi rank does a brisk business. Some may turn you down if the journey is considered too short. (12) The taxi rank does a brisk business. Some may turn you down if the journey is considered too short.
• (13) The numbers clearly mark where the carriage stops. (13) The numbers clearly mark where the carriage stops.
• (15) The carriage number is easy to see as are the seat numbers (back half here). Again they all match up easily to the ticket (7th carriage 6th seat). (15) The carriage number is easy to see as are the seat numbers (back half here). Again they all match up easily to the ticket (7th carriage 6th seat).
• (16) This is Zhe Chang Hao - the fastest train - going on the mountain line. (16) This is Zhe Chang Hao - the fastest train - going on the mountain line.
• (17) It is going to Song Shan (North of Taipei). (17) It is going to Song Shan (North of Taipei).
• (19) The train number (1156) is easy to spot... (19) The train number (1156) is easy to spot...
• (18) ... the English makes the confirmation easier! (18) ... the English makes the confirmation easier!
• (14) Train travel is popular the station is packed on a Saturday. (14) Train travel is popular the station is packed on a Saturday.
• (21) A big queue to squeeze onto this train. (21) A big queue to squeeze onto this train.
• (22) This chap has got a good spot. (22) This chap has got a good spot.
• (23) Train travel is convenient and cheap for school pupils, like these two boarding here. (23) Train travel is convenient and cheap for school pupils, like these two boarding here.
• (24) The hostess struggles to get on the train. In the end a few people got off to let her on. (24) The hostess struggles to get on the train. In the end a few people got off to let her on.
• (25) A quick look and the guard oks the departure (25) A quick look and the guard oks the departure
• (26) The train on the left is heading to Khaosiung, stopping at all stations and passengers have a 2 min. delay. Repeats some parts in English. (26) The train on the left is heading to Khaosiung, stopping at all stations and passengers have a 2 min. delay. Repeats some parts in English.
• (27) Pu Kwai - the 'crawler' (slow) train. (27) Pu Kwai - the 'crawler' (slow) train.
• (28) Inside bench seats and curved roof give many a nostalgic feeling. (28) Inside bench seats and curved roof give many a nostalgic feeling.
• (29) Quite often the doors hang open... the enthusiastic may try and jump on. (29) Quite often the doors hang open... the enthusiastic may try and jump on.
• (30) Nothing automatic about this door. (30) Nothing automatic about this door.
• (31) Zhe Chang Hao has individual seats and (31) Zhe Chang Hao has individual seats and
• (32) a the engine (front and rear) gives the feeling of speed. (32) a the engine (front and rear) gives the feeling of speed.
• (33) Fu Shing Hao that offers a mid-grade of comfort. (33) Fu Shing Hao that offers a mid-grade of comfort.
• (34) and an opportunity to get the fresh air! (34) and an opportunity to get the fresh air!
• (36) Dian Che is convenient for short trips, (36) Dian Che is convenient for short trips,
• (37) with benches running the length and grab handles in the ceiling. (37) with benches running the length and grab handles in the ceiling.
• (38) Another Dian Che that looks like those in New York. (38) Another Dian Che that looks like those in New York.
• (35) The transport police have a post at every major station. (35) The transport police have a post at every major station.
• (39) If the train runs late or the air conditioning breaks down you can stop here to get a refund. This doesn't happen often. (39) If the train runs late or the air conditioning breaks down you can stop here to get a refund. This doesn't happen often.
• (40) Drop the ticket for inspection and your off. (40) Drop the ticket for inspection and your off.
• (41) At the weekend garage is so full that scooters park on the street. (41) At the weekend garage is so full that scooters park on the street.
• (20) ...and compare with the ticket (Train no. 1020) to shows us this isn't the right train. (20) ...and compare with the ticket (Train no. 1020) to shows us this isn't the right train.
• (42) Taiwan has one of everthing... the latest purchase a bullet train. (42) Taiwan has one of everthing... the latest purchase a bullet train.
• (43) North to South takes about 2 hours. Note precision construction - tight gap between the train and platform. (43) North to South takes about 2 hours. Note precision construction - tight gap between the train and platform.
• (44) Guards make sure passenger stay well back from the track-side. (44) Guards make sure passenger stay well back from the track-side.
• (45) Truly an work of engineering art. (45) Truly an work of engineering art.
• (46) Each carriage has a large capacity but recline the seat for comfort! (46) Each carriage has a large capacity but recline the seat for comfort!
• (47) Good coffee and friendly service with it. (47) Good coffee and friendly service with it.
• (48) As the train surges to 300Kph the outside becomes a blur. (48) As the train surges to 300Kph the outside becomes a blur.
• (49) Dining car in the Taiwan train. (49) Dining car in the Taiwan train.
• (50) Tables looking out the window. (50) Tables looking out the window.
•  

Show Links:

• Taiwan rail site
• Taiwan rail timetable
• Taiwan High Speed Rail information

Bottom Line:

• Trains are a popular mode of transport among students, travelers and intercity commuters.
• The space of parking bays for motor bikes are well utilized.
• Started in 1998, online booking became available. However tickets are still paper based and are only slowly migrating over to electronic ticketing systems.
• Consumers were to pick up the ticket within 24 hours from the station or the post office (the post office is like a bank).
• If you miss your train, standby seats are available for the next train.
• Smoking is banned on the train.
• While many of the individual systems work well (like buying a ticket) they are not well integrated between staff and departments (only one staff sells seasons tickets and other others don't know about either the ticket nor the IT systems that go with it).
• The types of train are offered in fast, normal, and slow speed. It’s available in the costal/mountain line.