Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Explained

What THSR is (and isn't)

Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) is a separate system from both the Taipei MRT and the regular (TRA) rail network, running a single high-speed line down Taiwan's west coast from Nangang/Taipei through Taichung and on to Kaohsiung. It's the fastest way to reach any of the cities directly on its route, cutting a multi-hour drive down to well under an hour in some cases. It does not serve the east coast (Hualien, Taroko Gorge) or most smaller towns — those routes still rely on the regular TRA trains or buses.

Which Taipei station to use

THSR trains from Taipei depart from Taipei Main Station, in a dedicated section of the same building that also houses the MRT, TRA trains and the Airport MRT — follow the clearly marked THSR signage once inside, as it's a separate ticketing and platform area from the regular trains. Some services also start from Nangang Station, a few MRT stops further east; check your specific ticket.

Booking tickets

You can book online in advance (recommended for busy travel periods like weekends and holidays), buy from ticket machines or counters at the station, or in some cases buy your ticket on the day if seats are available — standard non-reserved carriages at the rear of most trains sell unlimited standing-room tickets even when reserved seats are sold out. For a straightforward day trip on a normal weekday, buying on arrival at the station is usually fine; for weekends, holidays, or Lunar New Year, book ahead.

Using THSR for day trips

THSR is what makes a Taichung day trip properly practical from Taipei — around 50 minutes each way means you can have a full day in the city and still be back in Taipei for dinner. It's a different system from the TRA trains you'd use to reach Hualien for Taroko Gorge, so don't expect a single ticket or station to cover both.

Practical information