THSR connects Taiwan's west coast from Nangang (Taipei) to Zuoying (Kaohsiung) in under 2 hours at 300 km/h. Early Bird discounts cut the fare by up to 35% — here is everything you need to know before buying a ticket.
350 km from Nangang (Taipei) in the north to Zuoying (Kaohsiung) in the south — every station connects to local MRT or bus services.
| # | Station | Approx. Journey from Taipei | City / Connections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nangang | — | North terminus / Taipei MRT Green Line |
| 2 | Taipei (Main Station) | ~5 min | Taipei Main Station / All MRT lines / Airport MRT |
| 3 | Banqiao | ~10 min | MRT Blue Line |
| 4 | Taoyuan | ~22 min | Near Taoyuan Airport / Airport MRT station A8 |
| 5 | Hsinchu | ~33 min | Science Park / local bus into city |
| 6 | Miaoli | ~49 min | Local bus into city |
| 7 | Taichung | ~1 hr | Taichung MRT Green Line |
| 8 | Changhua | ~1 hr 10 min | Local bus / near industrial zone |
| 9 | Yunlin | ~1 hr 20 min | Bus to Douliu city |
| 10 | Chiayi | ~1 hr 30 min | Bus / gateway to Alishan |
| 11 | Tainan | ~1 hr 45 min | Tainan MRT Red Line (under construction 2026) |
| 12 | Zuoying (Kaohsiung) | ~1 hr 48–2 hr | South terminus / Kaohsiung MRT Red Line |
ℹ️ Three stations serve the greater Taipei metro area: Nangang, Taipei Main Station, and Banqiao. Most travellers board at Taipei Main Station, which connects directly to the Airport MRT and all six Taipei MRT lines. Non-stop express services are roughly 10–15 minutes faster than all-stop services over the full route.
Approximate 2026 reference fares — excludes Early Bird discounts. NT$1 ≈ US$0.031.
| Route | Standard Car (NT$) | Business Car (NT$) | Journey Time (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taipei → Taoyuan | NT$160 | ~NT$290 | ~22 min |
| Taipei → Hsinchu | NT$290 | ~NT$500 | ~33 min |
| Taipei → Taichung | NT$700 | ~NT$1,190 | ~1 hour |
| Taipei → Chiayi | NT$1,080 | ~NT$1,830 | ~1.5 hours |
| Taipei → Tainan | NT$1,350 | ~NT$2,290 | ~1 hr 45 min |
| Taipei → Zuoying (Kaohsiung) | NT$1,490 | ~NT$2,530 | ~1 hr 48–2 hr |
Book directly through the THSRC website — full English support, guest checkout available without a THSRC account. Full fare, but Early Bird discounts up to 35% can be applied. Book up to 28 days ahead. Receive ticket as SMS / QR code / printout or collect at a station kiosk.
Best for: Travellers who know their dates in advance and want to choose their exact seat.
Book THSR tickets or passes through Klook and receive a QR code in the app — scan directly at the station turnstile, no paper exchange needed. Klook often offers promotional pricing and platform credits. No THSRC account required.
Best for: International travellers already using Klook; those who prefer app-based ticketing and don't want to navigate a new account.
Purchase at the manned counter or self-service kiosk in any THSR station — full fare only, no Early Bird discount. Receive a magnetic-stripe ticket card. Station staff speak workable English at major stations.
Best for: Walk-up travel, last-minute changes, or travellers not comfortable with online booking.
Early Bird seats are allocated in limited quantities — the longer ahead you book, the deeper the discount, but once that inventory sells out the reduced rate is gone even within the booking window.
The default and most popular class. 2+3 seats per row, reclining seats, free Wi-Fi (patchy in tunnels), USB and AC charging at every seat. Large luggage racks at the end of each car. Suitable for every route length.
Fare: As per fare table above · Early Bird discounts available
2+2 seats per row, wider seats, more legroom. Cabin crew serve complimentary drinks and a Bento meal on routes from Taichung southward. Price is approximately 70% higher than Standard — worth considering for routes over 1 hour if you value the comfort and meal.
Fare: ~70% above Standard · No Early Bird discount
2–3 cars per train with no seat assignment — same price as a Standard reserved ticket, but you sit wherever you find space. Great for off-peak travel; risky on weekends and public holidays when these cars fill quickly and standing is possible.
Which cars: Usually the last 2–3 cars (lowest car numbers). Check the platform signage before boarding.
Approximate 2026 figures. TRA = conventional Taiwan Railways. Bus = intercity coach.
| Route | THSR (High-Speed) | TRA (Conventional) | Intercity Bus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taipei → Kaohsiung | ~1 hr 48–2 hr · NT$1,490 | ~4 hr (Express) · NT$845 | ~5 hr · NT$650 |
| Taipei → Taichung | ~1 hr · NT$700 | ~2 hr · NT$375 | ~2.5 hr · NT$300 |
| Taipei → Tainan | ~1 hr 45 min · NT$1,350 | ~4 hr · NT$735 | ~4.5 hr · NT$550 |
| Taipei → Chiayi | ~1 hr 30 min · NT$1,080 | ~3 hr · NT$568 | ~3.5 hr · NT$450 |
Unlimited THSR travel across the entire west-coast network for any 3 days within a 7-day window from first activation. Available exclusively to foreign passport holders (not Taiwan national ID). The 3 days do not need to be consecutive — you could use it Monday, Wednesday and Friday if that suits your itinerary.
Standout feature: the flexibility to choose any 3 days within 7 makes it easy to pair with non-THSR travel days.
Simple rule: if individual ticket prices would total more than NT$2,400, the pass saves money.
Sample itinerary that makes the pass worthwhile: Taipei → Kaohsiung (NT$1,490) + Kaohsiung → Tainan (NT$350) + Tainan → Taipei (NT$1,350) = NT$3,190 total. Pass saves approximately NT$790.
Before booking, see the full comparison — when THSR makes sense vs Tze-Chiang, Taroko/Puyuma, Chu-Kuang, or Local.
THSR vs TRA — 5 train types compared with route examples (Taipei-Hualien, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Yilan) plus honest caveats on sellouts and EasyCard limits.
Read the comparison →The THSR Taoyuan station connects to the Airport MRT at station A8 — you can ride directly to Taichung or beyond without going through central Taipei first.
Airport Transport Guide →Visa, EasyCard, currency exchange, eSIM options and a pre-departure checklist — everything you need before landing.
Open Practical Info →All 6 Taipei MRT lines explained, how to buy and top up your EasyCard, fares, etiquette and the 20% bus discount.
Read MRT Guide →Day-by-day itineraries, neighbourhood hotel picks, the best food, top attractions and practical transport — all in one place.
Open Taipei Guide →Every major city, the best attractions, seasonal highlights, hotel picks and travel essentials for your whole Taiwan trip.
Open Taiwan Guide →Hour-by-hour plan with a budget table, route map and day-trip options — ideal for first-time visitors to Taipei.
View Itinerary →Early Bird 35% discount seats are limited and sell out fast. Book through Klook for a QR code delivered directly to your app — no paper ticket, no counter queues. Or explore the 3-Day Pass if you're planning a multi-city itinerary.