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	Above:  Taipei main station, used by both conventional trains & the new high-speed trains to Kaohsiung.  Photos courtesy of James Chuang

Taiwan is a large island south of Japan and east of the Chinese mainland.  When the communists took over in China in 1949, ousted leader Chiang Kai Shek retreated to Taiwan with his government, defiantly retaining the name 'Republic of China' (ROC).  It should not be confused with The People's Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland!

Taipei - Kaohsiung by 300 km/h high-speed train.

Keelung - Taipei - Kaohsiung (western main line)

Taipei - Hualien - Taitung (eastern main line)

Tourist trains around the island

Other routes

Getting to Taiwan without flying:  Ferry Japan-Taiwan, ferry China-Taiwan.

A modern rail system links most large towns and cities in Taiwan, and a new high-speed (300km/h) railway opened in January 2007 between the two biggest cities, Taipei and Kaohsiung.  Map of Taiwan rail network.

Taipei - Kaohsiung (by 300 km/h high-speed trains)...

A brand-new high speed (300 km/h) train service using Japanese bullet train technology started running in January 2007 between Taipei and Kaohsiung.  It is run by the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation, www.thsrc.com.tw (English button top right).

• 300km/h trains link Taipei and Kaohsiung every 15 minutes throughout the day, at times more frequently;

• journey time 1 hour 40 minutes on the limited-stop trains, 1 hour 55 minutes on other services;

• There are 3 classes:  Unreserved economy, reserved seat economy, & business class;

• Off-peak fares (Monday to Thursday):  Reserved seat economy class 1,190 Taiwan Dollars (£20 or $40), 1,070 Taiwan dollar (£18 or $38) for unreserved economy class and 1,560 Taiwan dollar (£26 or $42) for business class.

• Peak fares (Friday, Saturday, Sunday & public holidays):  1,490 Taiwan dollars (£25 or $40) in reserved economy, 1,340 dollars (£23 or $36) for unreserved economy class and 2,440 Taiwan dollars (£40 or $70) for business class. Travelling Monday to Thursday during off peak period in during off peak period.

• The station in Kaohsiung is actually at Zuoying in the north of the city.  You can take a frequent Taiwan Railway Administration local train from New Zuoying station (in the same building as the Zuoying high speed station) to Kaohsiung main station in the city centre, journey time 10 minutes, or you can take the Kaohsiung Metro (red line), also taking 10 minutes, metro website www.krtco.com.tw.  You can buy tickets for the local train from the ticket machines or staffed kiosks, and metro tickets from the machines near the metro platforms.  Buses are also available to the city centre, including a free shuttle bus between Zuoying and the CBD areas of Hsin Chu,Tainan & Taoyuan.  An extension of the high-speed line to a station in Kaohsiung city centre is planned for the future.

• In Taipei, the high-speed trains use the same station as the Taiwan Railways Corporation conventional trains.  Taipei metro: http://english.trtc.com.tw/.

• For times, fares & online booking, see www.thsrc.com.tw (English button at upper right).

Taiwanese high speed train		Business class		Economy class
Photos courtesy of  Shigeyuki Kaneko

Keelung - Taipei - Kaohsiung (by conventional trains, western line)...

The western main line links Keelung, Taiwan's capital Taipei and its second city and major port, Kaohsiung.  For a route map, see http://service.tra.gov.tw/EN/index.aspx or http://johomaps.com/as/taiwan/taiwanrail.html, for train times, fares & online booking see the official Taiwan Railways Administration website, www.railway.gov.tw (English version available, online booking only available 06:00-21:00).  The best trains are the 'Tze Chiang' expresses which run at up to 130 km/h (80mph), are fully air-conditioned and take as little as 4 hours.  Only one very comfortable class of seating is provided on these trains, with an at-seat trolley refreshment service.  The Tze Chiang train fare is NT$ 845 (£14 or $27) one-way.

A Tze Chiang train on the line to Su Ao. Photo courtesy of Peter Voelger		Inside the Tze Chiang train Photo courtesy of Peter Voelger

The next best train type, with slightly less comfortable seating but also air-conditioned, is the Chu Kuang train service, Taipei-Kaohsiung fare NT$ 544  (£9 or $17), journey 6.5 hours.  The next train type down the range is the Fu shin, with less legroom.

Taipei to Hualien & Taitung (Eastern main line)

Taiwan Rail Administration provides generally hourly express trains on the scenic eastern line.  From late 2007 new 'Taroko express' high-speed (130km/h) electric tilting trains were introduced, providing an hourly service between Taipei and Hualien, with several services continuing along the scenic valley to Taitung.  All seats must be reserved.  For times, fares & online booking, see www.railway.gov.tw.

Above:  Taroko Express between Taipei & Hualien... Photo courtesy of James Chuang		Above:  Inside a Taroko Express... Photo courtesy of James Chuang

Tourist trains around Taiwan island:

From May 2008, two daily tourist trains started running right around the island in one day.  One service leaves Taipei, via Hualien, Taitung on the eastern mainline, around south coast and return to Taipei via western mainline in clockwise direction (train number 2080), the other goes anti-clockwise via the western mainline first, around the south coast and along the eastern mainline back to Taipei (train number 2079).  These trains offer a higher class of travel with large aircraft-style first class seats, lounge and buffet car.  The cost for the whole trip around the island is approximately 2,200 Taiwan dollars (£37 or $58).  There are also tours available in various places on the way for those wanting to stop off.  Seats on the tourist train must be reserved.  The train is a joint venture between Taiwan Rail Administration & a private company called EZ Travel, for information see  www.eztravel.com.tw/package1.

Other scenic routes...

3 scenic railway branches are also worth a visit.  The Neiwan Line takes in a river, Hakka museums, temples, Hakka culture cafes and restaurants.  The Pingsi line takes in waterfalls, a river, tourist coal mine, cafes and restaurants and various culture festivities.  The  Jiji line passes mountains, historical village and houses, cafes and restaurants, several through services available from Taichung TRA railway station and Taichung high speed rail station.  These three lines offer a special tourist ticket, allowing tourists to get off where they like and reboard any train throughout the day for 80 Taiwan dollars.  This special tourist ticket is available at all major railway stations across Taiwan. All branch line trains are air conditioned.

Sponsored links:

Japan to Taiwan by Arimura Lines ferry...

A twice-weekly ferry run by Arimura Sangyo Lines links Japan with Taiwan, sailing once a week to Kaohsiung and once a week to Keelung.  For overland travel from Europe to Japan, see the Trans-Siberian page.  For travel from North America to Japan by freighter try the links in the shipping section of the links page.

Japan ► Taiwan				Taiwan ► Japan
	Saturdays	Wednesdays			Sundays	Tuesdays
Nagoya (Japan mainland) depart:	11:00 Sat	10:30 Wed		Kaohsiung (Taiwan) depart:	12:00 Sun	-
Osaka (Japan mainland) depart:	00:50 Sun	00:50 Thur		Keelung (Taiwan) depart:	|	22:00 Tues
Naha (Okinawa) arrive:	07:30 Mon	07:30 Fri		Naha (Okinawa) arrive:	14:00 Mon	15:00 Wed
Naha (Okinawa) depart:	20:00 Mon	20:00 Fri		Naha (Okinawa) arrive:	18:00 Mon	19:00 Wed
Keelung (Taiwan) arrive:	18:00 Tues	|		Osaka (Japan mainland) arrive:	|	|
Kaohsiung (Taiwan) arrive:	-	06:00 Sun		Nagoya (Japan mainland) arrive:	07:30 Wed	07:00 Sat

Arimura's website is www.arimuraline.co.jp but it's in Japanese only.  To confirm sailing times in English, try http://www.tokai-kyowa.co.jp/english/i_ferry01.html.  Fares start at around 35,000 Yen ($290) Nagoya-Taiwan, 33,000 Yen from Osaka.  To book, call Arimura Line on +81 98 860 1980 (Japan) or +886 7 330 9811 in Taiwan or email enquiries to adachi_arimuraline@nifty.com.

Above:  Arimura Line's Hiryu21 Photo courtesy of Peter Voelger		Economy berths... Photo courtesy of Peter Voelger		Luxury suite... Photo courtesy of Peter Voelger

China to Taiwan by ferry...

It's reported that the Macau-Taiwan ferry has been permanently suspended.  There are reportedly no other ferries between China and Taiwan, but if you know any different, please e-mail me.

Feedback needed..!

If you've any information or photos that would help improve this page for future travellers, please e-mail me

It's probably the most adventurous timetable ever produced... The famous Thomas Cook Overseas Timetable has train, bus and ferry times for Taiwan, Japan, China, in fact all of Asia, America, Africa & Australasia.  It is published every two months.  No serious overland traveller should be without it..!

It costs £13.50 from the bureau de change in any UK branch of Thomas Cook, or it can be ordered by phone on 01733 416477 (+44 1733 416477 from outside the UK).

Buy online at www.thomascooktimetables.com (worldwide delivery).

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