Travellers often assume all trains in Taiwan are one network. In fact, the MRT, the Taiwan Railway (TRA) and the High Speed Rail (THSR) are separate systems with different tickets, station buildings and rules. Choosing the right one saves both money and stress. Each section below ends with the Live168 page that helps you check live information in English: Metro, TRA and THSR.
Which system should you use?
| System | Best for | Where |
|---|---|---|
| MRT / Metro | Getting around a city, frequent trains, no reservation needed. | Taipei and New Taipei, Taoyuan Airport line, Taichung, Kaohsiung. |
| TRA | Reaching towns, the east coast and scenic branch lines at moderate cost. | Around the island, including Hualien and Taitung. |
| THSR | Fast city-to-city trips on the west coast. | 12 stations from Nangang to Zuoying. |
Use the MRT inside a city, THSR between big west-coast cities, and TRA for everywhere else. For a short trip between neighbouring towns, TRA local trains are often faster than waiting for a bus.
MRT basics
The Taipei Metro lines have a colour and a station code, such as BL12 for Taipei Main Station on the blue Bannan Line and R10 for the same station on the red Tamsui–Xinyi Line. Use the code to avoid confusion between similar names. Signs and announcements use the terminal station of each direction, which Live168 shows as "Toward" plus the final station.
- Tickets: pay with an EasyCard or iPASS, or buy a single-journey token at the machines. Food and drink are not allowed inside the paid area.
- Transfers: follow the line colour and the final-station name on the platform signs.
- Live arrivals: open the Metro page, pick a city and a station, and see the next trains in each direction.
Taoyuan Airport MRT
The Taoyuan Airport MRT runs from Taipei Main Station (A1) to the airport terminals (A12 Terminal 1 and A13 Terminal 2) and on to Taoyuan HSR Station (A18) and beyond. Express trains stop at fewer stations than commuter trains, so check which type you board. The journey from Taipei Main Station to the airport takes roughly half an hour to under an hour depending on train type. Keep a margin for baggage and check-in, and confirm the current timetable on the operator's website.
TRA trains
The TRA offers several train types. The fastest are the tilting Puyuma and Taroko expresses, which are reserved-seat only and often sell out on weekends and holidays. Tze-Chiang (including the newer Tze-Chiang 3000) is a limited express. Chu-Kuang and Fu-Hsing are slower classes that are being reduced, while Local and Fast Local trains stop at many stations and are used for short trips.
- Buy early for express trains. Reservations open weeks in advance and can be made online, at stations or at convenience-store kiosks.
- Check the train number and type on your ticket. In the TRA tool they appear as badges such as Tze-Chiang or Local, with delay information when available.
- IC cards: they are generally accepted on local-type trains, while express trains usually need a ticket. Confirm TRA's current rules for your train type.
THSR high speed rail
The THSR runs along the west coast between Nangang and Zuoying, with stops including Taipei, Banqiao, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Chiayi and Tainan. Most travellers choose between reserved seats and non-reserved seats. Non-reserved tickets are cheaper and valid for a set of cars on the day, but a seat is not guaranteed, so you may stand in busy periods. Reserved tickets can be bought ahead online, at counters and at machines, and tickets are usually released several weeks before travel.
The THSR page lists the timetable between two stations and the full list of stops for each train. THSR stations are usually outside city centres, so allow time to connect by MRT, TRA or bus.
Connections and live tools
- Taipei Main Station connects the MRT, TRA, THSR and the airport line.
- Banqiao connects the MRT, TRA and THSR.
- Taoyuan HSR Station (A18) connects THSR with the airport MRT.
- Zuoying (R16) connects THSR with the Kaohsiung Metro red line.
Live168 shows English station names when official data provides them. If an English name is missing, the Chinese name is displayed, so you can still match it with signs and tickets. Plan your last connection with a buffer, and treat live delay information as an estimate.
Ticketing rules, fares and train classes change over time. Always check the operator's current announcements before an important trip.