Taiwan is set to enhance its national connectivity with significant high-speed rail (HSR) expansion plans, greenlit by the Executive Yuan. Two major projects have been approved: one extending to Yilan County and another linking Kaohsiung to Pingtung County. Premier Cho Jung-tai has given the nod to the Nangang–Yilan HSR extension, which will span 60.6 kilometers and is projected to cost NT$352.2 billion (US$10.9 billion). This new line is poised to cut travel time between Taipei and Yilan to just about 28 minutes, a significant improvement over current rail services.
The new route will commence at Nangang HSR Station in Taipei, traverse through various districts in New Taipei City such as Sijhih, Pingsi, Shuangsi, and Gongliao, before reaching Yilan via Toucheng and Jiaosi townships. It is set to conclude at a new station near the Yilan County Government complex, which will offer seamless connections to the Yilan Railway Station. The construction timeline aims for a completion date by 2037, with projections from the Railway Bureau suggesting that daily ridership could hit around 27,000 passengers on weekdays and rise to 60,000 on weekends by 2051.
Additionally, the Executive Yuan has endorsed a 26.22-kilometer HSR extension from Zuoying HSR Station in Kaohsiung to a proposed station in Lioukuaitso, Pingtung City, passing through the Kaohsiung Railway Station. Authorities plan to finalize the project’s second-stage environmental impact assessment in the coming year, marking another critical step in the expansion process.
These railway expansions are integral to the government’s larger strategy of establishing a comprehensive rail network that facilitates travel across Taiwan in four interconnected 90-minute segments. Beyond the new lines, the plan includes upgrading the Hualien–Taitung railway to a double-track electrified line and enhancing the South Link Line between Taitung and Pingtung. These improvements aim to increase rail capacity, bolster resilience against extreme weather conditions, and advance Taiwan’s overall transportation infrastructure.