Taiwan high speed rail launches QR code tickets

台灣高鐵推出QR碼車票

Scanning the codes requires 98% less energy


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation on Wednesday introduced tickets with QR codes to help make travel smoother.

The new tickets will gradually replace the previous type with magnetic strips, allowing passengers to pass ticket gates even faster. The new tickets are also larger, with the information printed in a size 1.5 times larger than on the original tickets, the Liberty Times reported.

Stations in Nangang, Banqiao, and Chiayi started providing the tickets Wednesday, with Zuoying, Tainan, and Miaoli scheduled to follow suit from Jan. 8. The transition will be completed by the end of 2026, according to THSRC.

The top half of the new ticket is white, with a clear QR code and the names of the station of origin and the destination as well as the travel times. The new design does not require the traveler to turn the QR code toward the sensor at the ticket gate, allowing for quicker passage in and out of the station.

The introduction of the new tickets required the replacement of ticket vending machines and other equipment at all stations. The new technology is said to require 98% less electricity.

Nevertheless, THSRC encouraged travelers to use the T Express app to obtain digital tickets in an environmentally friendly way. Last year saw the sale of 28.11 million digital tickets, compared to 21.6 million in 2022, per CNA.