Taiwan Railways fare hike planned for June

台鐵六月將調漲票價

Taiwan Railway Corporation sets date for 27% increase announced in February


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A nearly 27% hike in passenger rail fares announced in February will be implemented in late June, Deputy Transport Minister Wu Sheng-yuan (伍勝園) said Monday.

Wu, who is also the interim chair of Taiwan Railway Corporation, told the legislature’s transport committee that the 26.8% fare increase will take place on June 23, per UDN. Wu said the corporation will earn about 0.3% on passenger tickets.

Wu said some short-distance fares will increase minimally and remain cheaper than buses and the MRT. He noted that a trip between Taipei Main Station and Banqiao would increase by NT$7 (US$0.21), from NT$15 to NT$22.

When asked whether recent economic conditions would mean further fare increases, Wu said only the 26.8% increase is planned for now. The increase will mark the first time in 30 years that the railway has raised prices, and it comes after the operator became a state-owned company at the start of the year.

The railway operator posted a record loss of NT$13.79 billion (US$417.60 million) in 2024, prompting discussions to increase fares. It attributed this to lower ticket revenue due to the Hualien earthquake and a new employee welfare system.