THSR hits record weekend ridership, triggers overcrowding on trains
Taiwan High Speed Rail carried a record 348,000 passengers on Thursday and 315,000 on Friday, leading to crowded conditions on several services.
Ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival long weekend, Taiwan High Speed Rail reported a historic 348,000 passengers on Thursday, followed by 315,000 on Friday, totaling 663,000 travelers in two days. The surge caused severe crowding, with holders of non-reserved tickets moving into reserved-seat and business-class cars, prompting social-media criticism. Regulations prohibit such boarding and require payment of the fare gap plus a possible 50% penalty, according to THSR’s fare rules.
A business-class rider highlighted the issue, noting the price disparity between NT$2,500 and NT$1,480 tickets. Anticipating another peak on Sunday and Monday as holidaymakers return, the company advised early departures and checking the “non-reserved wait time” indicator on its website to avoid peak periods.
Why it matters
The surge shows how holiday travel can overwhelm Taiwan's high-speed rail, affecting passenger comfort and fare enforcement.
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