2015年8月9日 星期日

Booking Train Tickets

        Compared with other transportation tools, train is more reliable for foreign travelers since foreign travelers can the find train lines on maps and  find the timetables easily. Some train stations are also transfer center at which you can take shuttle bus or metro. Here is some information about train in Taiwan you may need when you travel in Taiwan. 



Topic Summary:

1.Taiwan Railway Journey
  1.1 HSR
  1.2 TRA
2.Booking, Payment,  and Collection
3.App
  3.1 TRA App
  3.2 HSR App


Taiwan Railway Journey

1.Taiwan Railway Journey

        In Taiwan, there are 2 railway systems in Taiwan, Taiwan Railway Administration(TRA) and Taiwan High Speed Railway(HSR). Along the way of HSR, some stations are connected with TRA and Metro stations. Be noted that the same stations of TRA and HSR  may have different names.

Taipei Main Station:
HSR/TRA Taipei Station /Metro Taipei Station

Hsinchu
HSR/TRA Liujia Station, branch line

Taichung
HSR/TRA Xinwuri Station

Tainan
HSR/Salun Statin, branch line

Zuoying (Kaohsiung)
HSR/TRA Xinzuoying Station/Metro Zuoying Station

  • 1.1 HSR

Taiwan HSR, Non-Reserved Car is 10(9)~12
        HSR connects major west cities, including Taipei, Taohuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Chiayi, & Kaohsiung. HSR has only one train type and 2 kind of train schedules: stops only at Taichung or stops  at all stations. The fastest HSR train can finish the 350 KM within 90 minutes.
      Yon need to wait in the queue of car 10(9)~12 if you buy the non-reserved tickets, which is only  sold on spot.

  •  1.2 TRA
        TRA has a round island network and includes some branch lines, ex Pinxi line, Jiji line, Alisan line etc. Like most countries,  it takes time  to understand the railway system and book the ticket. You can follow the steps mentioned below to book TRA tickets easily.
      Most foreigners  ask how to book the trains tickets. Booking implies booking reserved tickets with seats number. But you can also take TRA train with non-reserved tickets which you can buy at the ticket vending machine or ticket window in the railway stations.  You can also use EasyCard as well.

TRA-Website

         The official portal site of TRA is http://www.railway.gov.tw.  You can type the station name in "Depart station" and "Arrival station"  and choose the day you want to check. Click  " Inquiry "  to get the timetable.



         You can click " Order  Tickets " to order ticket .

         For hot train, e.g. Taipei to Hualien, the tickets are usually sold out.

         Since you need to try each train to check whether the tickets are available or not. it is not efficient to check one by one. TRA provides another inquiry function that cannot tell you which train tickets are available. It is a pity that the function are not equipped in English website. You need to enter from Chinese website and change the language. 

         Fill  in the blanket "Depart station" and "Arrival station"  and choose the day you want to check, and the website  provide  which train tickets are available.  The following example show that only train 204(06:23-09:29) are available.  I  have tried the function to check available tickets in English. However,  it may not work when you change the language.



         The most frustrating part of reading the timetable is to identify the train types. Most guides books introduces that TRA  has some different train classes and can classified into 2 level: Express Trains(Tze-Chiang, Fu-Shing, Chu-Kuang Trains) and Ordinary Train(including Ordinary and Local Trains). For a local Taiwanese, sometimes he/she may be also confused about these train types .For a foreigner traveler, I would suggest an easier way to identify these trains.
         The following picture illustrates the timetable from Luodong to Hualien. Taroko and Puyuma Express only sell reserved tickets and you must book in advance. Local train only sells non-reserved tickets and the non-reserved tickets are sold on spot (you can use EasyCard instead at most TRA stations ).
Searching Results

         EasyCard is useful in Taiwan. You can you it at any bus, MRT, train, convenient stores, Starbucks and etc.. train lines. You can also use EasyCard directly, passing the gate at entrance like MRT, instead of buying non-reserved ticket for Local Train and Other Express Express trains. You can enjoy 10% discount and don't need to wait in the queue in front of the ticket window/machine if you use EasyCard.
         Since seats may be sold out for part of the route, you may find that there empty seats for all of the route but train tickets are not available, although the empty seat numbers are not the same between different stations. For example, train tickets are empty in car 1 between Taipei & Luodong and empty in car 9 between Luoding & Hualien, but the tickets between  Taipei & Hualien are not available.
Change of seats on the same train
         TRA booking system provides the function that matches empty seats if same seats are not available. The function,  I accept change of seats on the same train, is default at open. If you don't want to change your seat, check the searching result carefully.
         The following is a change  seats tickets. There are some special features for the change seats tickets:

  1. Combination of reserved ticket(Car 1 seat 38 between Toucheng and Badou) and no-seat ticket(Badu to Taipei).
  2. There are 120 no-seat ticket for Taroko/Puyuma Express. No-seat tickets are only sold at ticket windows in the train stations. You cannot reserved no-seat ticket and you can only buy the no-seat for the same day.









2.Booking, Payment, Collection

       There are lots of methods to book, pay, and collect your HSR/TRA tickets. Booking, payment and collection are independent. You can choose the most convenient methods. You can even finish booking, payment and collection in app.

HSR/TRA Tickets Booking Payment and Collection
       If you book HSR/TRA ticket at convenient stores or train stations, you can finish payment and collection at the same time. However, most people book train tickets  in HSR/TRA official website. You will get a series number after booking online. You can pay with your credit card online at the the same time.
      If you have paid TRA tickets, you can collect your TRA ticket until the last 30 minutes before departure time. THSR has different regulation. If you have paid HSR ticket, there is no regulation when you should collect your ticket. Passengers can change the HSR booking once without charge before 30 minutes prior departure.
    Kiosk at Convenient Store.
          For a foreign traveler, finish booking and payment online at the same time would be better. The deadline of payment is the end is T+1. For example, if you book successfully at 10am, 1 May, the payment deadline would be 11:59.59 pm ,2th May.
          You can collect your ticket at convenient stores. Just show the staff of convenient stores your ID and ticket SN and they can help you to operate the kiosk. There are over 10,000 convenient in Taiwan. It costs only extra  NTD 10(HSR)/NTD 8(TRA) for each ticket.  Don't collect your ticket at the train station at the last minute since there could be a long queue in front of the ticket window.

    HSR Booking Record

    TRA Booking Record

    HSR/TRA Non-Reserved Tickets

          Since you cannot take Taroko/Puyuma express unless you have bought reserved tickets and local train sells only non-reserved tickets, what we talk in this section is the non-reserved tickets for TRA other express. TRA non-reserved tickets, in fact, are no-seat tickets.
    TRA No Seat Ticket
          Because  a TRA express train may stops over 20 stations, the tickets for some sections may not be sold. In the following examples, you can sit on the vacancy seat between Hualien and Taitung
    TRA ticket example

          Although the name form HSR/TRA non-reserved tickets are similar. the rules for HSR/TRA non-reserved tickets are different. The following table compares the difference between HSR and TRA non-reserved tickets.
    Non-ReservedHSRTRA
    CarsOnly between 10(9)-12 carsNo Constraints(Taroko/Puyuma sells only reserved tickets)
    SeatsFirst come, first getYou can sit until someone claims with his reserved ticket
    Discount5%20% only for Fuxing,Chu-Kuang Express, over 81 KM


    TRA Booking Tips

          Since there are over 200 train stations and lots different classes of train, there are some trips you may need when you books TRA tickets.

    • Taipei<->Hualien/Taroko

          It is always hard to book the train tickets between Taipei and Hualien/Taroko. Combo ticket is a solution. It is cheaper(about NTD 200, about 50% off comparing to Tze-Chiang class), flexible, and always availble. For more information, please refer to Transportation Between Taipei And Hualien (Taroko).
    Combo Ticket. 
    Upper:From Hualien to Luodong by train(Left Part) and Luodong to Taipei by Kamalan Bus (Right Part)
    Lower:  Upgrade to Tze-chang Express with fare difference NTD 73
          By the way, if you want to go to Taroko, the cloest train station is Xincheng(Taroko) Station, Hualien Station is 20 KM south of Xincheng(Taroko) Station. It may waste you up to 2 hours if you book the train to Hualien. Since fewer trains stop at Xincheng(Taroko) from Taipei, Combo ticket also provide a better solution for this problem.

    • Book sold out tickets at 12am
          Since the deadline of payment is T+1, some may try to book at 12am at T+2. It may work. However, the solution may not be as good as you thought. Since TRA will cancel the right of booking if passengers book but not pay before deadline for a few times, lots passengers will cancel the booking by themselves. Therefore, you may try to book at 12am. But you had better try to inquire available tickets all the time.

    3.App


            App is the most convenient solution, in my opinion, to foreign visitors. It combines booking,  payment, and collection together. Most important of all, you can check the availability of seats any time. I had a special experience when I traveled in UK. I checked the tickets status a few day ago by trainline. I  booked tickets just a few minutes before I walked in the the train station and took the train in the next few minutes with QRcode. That was amazing experience and each section conected smoothly. You can do that in Taiwan as well.
      

    • 3.1 TRA App

             You can download TRA app from App Store or Google Play.  TRA app provides almost all functions. You can check timetable, tickets available, and pay the tickets by your credit card. You can also use QRcode to enter the station.



            You don't need to collect your ticket at  train stations or convenient stores. Be noted: Don't collect your ticket until the last moment since you cannot refund  the ticket if you have collect your ticket in your app. Another problem with QRcode is that the QRcode ticket follows the phone you collect the ticket, not your account. If you change your smart phone, you cannot collect your tickets again on another smart phone.
    • 3.2 HSR App

        If you take HSR, you can use app to book,pay, and collect ticket as well. In booking page, you can see the timetable, discount and availability of seats. And you can book and pay by your credit card.

            Be aware that whenever you collect your tickets, the tickets follow your cellphone. You cannot transfer to other cell phone. If you lost your cell phone, the tickets is gone. Therefore, collect your ticket at the last moment in your cellphone.  After collecting your tickets, you will receive QR code and the usage is the same as the the ticket you collect at convenient stores.



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    119 則留言:

    1. What does the ticket taking due time refer to?

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      1. If you have paid, you can collect your ticket until the last minute.

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    2. Looking at the train time table above (from Luodong to Hualien), what does the thrid column ("Via") refers to? As I check the timetable, there are certain trains that appeared "Mountain Line" and some is blank. Is there any difference?

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      1. The information is not related to your itinerary. There is no difference for the train between Luodong to Hualien.
        Via means go by. If you check the northwest side of the map "Taiwan Railway Journey", you will find there is a loop. The west line is coast line and the east line is mountaion.

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    3. but how to booking japanese train ticket?, like a shinkansen or other train? :)

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      1. Booking Japanese train ticket is out of the scope of "Taiwan Itinerary"

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    4. oh im so sorry i commend in wrong place :)
      thank you..
      Nice to meet you :)

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    5. nice blog! Get online Train Ticket Booking ! thankyou for shearing online train ticket

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    6. nice blog! i am very happy for use this blog! fastest all types ticket booking . thankyou for shearing. tatkal ticket booking

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    7. Hi,
      I'm arriving at Taoyuan airport on 28 June and my hotel that night is at Hualien.
      I want to take the TRA (not combo) to Hualien. Am I right to say that I have to go to the TRA official site - http://railway.hinet.net/net_eng.htm to book my tickets?

      When I go into the website, I am not able to book my ticket for 28 June, is it because it is sold out already?

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    8. Hi.. please advise me about booking codes. As I tried to book online for train tickets, how can I get booking codes? Thank you

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    9. I understand that for children under 115cm its free but do they get a seat as well? If I want a seat do I pay for a child seat?

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      1. If you need a seat for your child, you need to buy a ticket. The price of a child ticket is half of a normal ticket.

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    10. Hi, please help me,
      I'd like to book return ticket from Taipei to Chiayi (01/12 - 03/12) but I can not do on website, they always said you can not book more than 6 tickets/day but I even cannot book for one or 2

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      1. Do you mean TRA tickets? Try to book again. You can book the TRA tickets of 3/12 since 18/11

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    11. Hi Sullivan :) thank you for sharing this.. 1 question - will it be a problem if I don't have the credit card that I used to pay for my ticket with me when I collect the ticket?

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      1. You have to paid within the deadline, normally by the end of 2nd day.
        If you are at Taiwan, you can pay and collect convenient stores.

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      2. Thank you again :) Happy New Year!!

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    12. How many days out can you book...on the website looks like it is less than 1 month out...is that correct?

      Thanks

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    13. Are there too overcrowded on Lunar new year? Should we buy ticket online first to have a reserved-seat since we have 3 years old kid. Thanks!

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    14. Hi Chen,

      If i want to use TRA from Taipei main station to Ruifang station on Monday, 3rd April 2017 around 7AM, do i need to book the ticket online in advance?

      Basically, can we purchase the ticket on the spot and get a seat inside the train?
      Does the train has a "non-reserved seat" coach?
      Also, do you know about the TRA timetable from Taipei to Ruifang station?

      Thanks :)

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      1. You don't need book online in advance since local train does not have reserved seats.
        Since that's the direction off the city in the office hour, it is easy to finds seats available in local trains..
        You can use easycard to take any train except Taroko express and Puyuma express and the it is much flexible
        Timetable http://twtraffic.tra.gov.tw/twrail/English/e_index.aspx
        http://twtraffic.tra.gov.tw/twrail/English/e_index.aspx
        You can input Station Name directly.

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      2. Hi, thanks for your reply!

        Is it necessary to purchase Tze Chiang TRA ticket one week in advance (Taipei Main Station -> Ruifang Station)? I am planning to purchase the reserved seat one if possible as the journey might be 50minutes.

        Also, is it easy to get the train back to Taipei Main Station from Ruifang station at night (around 8PM) ? Do i need to book the ticket in advance or just straightly go to whichever train comes around that time as long as it is going to Taipei Main Station?

        Thanks ya!

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    15. Will it be cheaper if I buy the ticket online?

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    16. Dear Chen,

      You are so nice to make a very detail guide for oversea tourist to book Taiwan Train ticket online. I also have a question would like to ask you. After finishing booking train ticket online, can I get my real ticket at 7-11 or at ticket counter in Taiwan before the departure time 1 day or sooner ?
      Thank you very much for your assistant in advance.

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      1. Sure, you can. Remember to keep your booking code and ask the staff of converient stores to operate the Kiosk

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    17. Dear Chen Sulliwan,

      Thank you for your kindly help. I have already booked and paid our 2 train tickets online from Taichung to Taipei. We will travel Taiwan next week for 6 days.
      Just a few more questions would like to ask for your assistant is :
      - Do I need to show the " Ticket Pick Up Form " if I want to take the ticket at 7-11 or Family Mart ? ( The Taiwan train website to say that I must fill up and show this Ticket Pick Up Form if I will take my ticket at the ticket train counter )
      - Could you kindly drop some Chinese words for us to show the Shop Attendant at 7-11/Family Mart to help us operate the Kiosk ? Because I afraid that we maybe misunderstand by communicate by english!

      Once again, many thanks for your help !

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      1. Pick up form is not necessary. Booking code & your ID is enough.
        English is useful in Taiwan and ticket collection service is popular in Taiwan. Say "train ticket" and show them your booking code and ID to the staff, they will know how to help you. If you are afraid of misunderstanding, print the pick up form.

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    18. Hi there, I did a booking but forgot the booking code. Have yet to make online payment.

      What can I do? Thks

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      1. Try this website
        http://railway.hinet.net/OrderTicketOperation/efind.htm

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    19. Hi. If i were to order and make payment online, will I still be able to collect it as the kiosk or I can only collect it over the counter at TMS? Also, does all the convenient shops have the kiosk available? many thanks.

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      1. Yes, you can collect your tickets at TMS. However not many people will collect their tickets at TMS since long queue in front of the ticket window.
        Not all, but I think the possibility is less than 1/10000. I met one that didn't provide Kiosk in the remote area in the past 10 years.

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    20. My staying place is near Xi Men Ding. Will the Kiosk be available at convenient shops such as 7-11, Family Mart etc? Or only available at 7-11 etc? Thanks!

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      1. You can take your tickets at 7-11, familymart, hi-life, OK.
        Over 30 shops in XMD have kiosk

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    21. Hi Chen, regarding the Taroko Express, does it have intermediate stations from Taipei to Xincheng (Taroko)?

      And can I book the tickets online in advance and pay at convenient stores a few days before departure using cash?

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      1. Yes, Taroko Express will stop at some intermediate stations. Each Taroko will stay at different station.BTW, Xincheng(Taroko) Station is a small station and not many Taroko Express stop there.
        You need to pay within 2 days after booking

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    22. Hi!

      Is it necessary to purchase Tze Chiang TRA ticket one week in advance (Taipei Main Station -> Ruifang Station)? I am planning to purchase the reserved seat one if possible as the journey might be 50minutes.

      Also, is it easy to get the train back to Taipei Main Station from Ruifang station at night (around 8PM) ? Do i need to book the ticket in advance or just straightly go to whichever train comes around that time as long as it is going to Taipei Main Station?

      Thanks ya!

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      1. What's the different between this question and your previous question?
        Flexibility trip is important to me since I'm always changing itinerary. If comfort is important to your trip, just book the Tze Chinag.
        My opinion may not be useful to you.I would come home one hour earlier rather than wait one hour in the train station.
        (There are 19 runs of train to Ruifang and only 4 of them are Tze Chiang.)
        The same when you come back. If you are worried, just book the reserved tickets.

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      2. Oh i see, because i will go with my 50 Y.O mom, i just worried she might need to stand for an hour during the trip to Ruifang station.

        So, basically if i go directly to Taipei Main Station without booking any ticket to Ruifang, i can go to any train boarding to Ruifang station right?

        I noticed that 3rd April is public holiday in Taiwan, would it be okay if i just go straight to Taipei Main Station and purchase the ticket to Ruifang station straightly?

        Thanks ya :D

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      3. You can take any train except Taroko/Puyuma Express. If you take other express train, check with the staff whether the express train will stop at Ruifang or not.
        3rd April is a 4-day holiday.Try to go to Jiufen/Shifen at other days
        BTW, you can use easycard/ipass instead of buying train tickets.

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      4. hi! thanks so much for your detail information ya! i will try to go on 1st april (saturday) then :D hehehe

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    23. Hello Chen,

      Please can you explain if I can book a ticket to travel from Tainan to Kenting by train and kenting express bus online?
      Do I need to get the train to Zuoing to then pick up the kenting express bus? Can I book my return kenting express ticket online?Which is the best bus to get and I need to return to Fangliao to get the train to Ruisui?

      Many thanks

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      1. You can book train(Tainan->Xinzuo Train Station, not HSR Zuoying station) from TRA website and bus(Xinzuoying Train Station->Kenting) from http://ticket.fun2tw.com/
        In fact, I don't think it is necessary to book the bus/train since the frequency is hight
        p.s. HSR Zuoying station and Zuoying Train Station is in the same building but different track systems.
        From Kenting to Ruisui, you can follow the itinerary examples here
        http://taiwan-itinerary.blogspot.tw/2015/10/KentingHualien.html

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    24. Hi,
      i would like to know what are the differences between taiwan railway vs HSR, as right now from what i know the differences is, 1 is slower and cheaper than the other 1. but are there any other more reasons for me to take taiwan railway like much more sceneries that will help to make the ride interesting. Plus taiwan railway is available from taipei to kaohsiung right? coz right now at the website what i am seeing is Taipei→Hualien but Departure Taipei @06:12 and Arrival Kaohsiung 11:21.

      Thanks a lot.

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      1. I cannot catch your question. If you are comparing the view between Taipei & KS, I would say no much difference.

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      2. oh i am comparing the view by taking HSR and the normal train by taiwan railway.

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      3. I know. But I cannot catch your standard.What is more sceneries?
        If I compare the railway view of west coast and east coast, I can say east coast is more scenearies since it go through villages, rice field,cliff, valley.
        Between Taipei & Zuoying, HSR is 400KM and railway is 363KM. Does meanS HSR is more sceneries?

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    25. 作者已經移除這則留言。

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    26. Hi, just to ask if one Easycard can be used in different cities like Taichung too?

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      1. Yes, you can. Almost all public transportation accept easycard.

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      2. Thanks for your reply 😊😊

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    27. Hi Sullivan, you are a life saver!

      Just want to double confirm, I have booked my TRA tickets from Taipei to Chiayi for 5 Apr. If I pay by credit card now, can i collect after I arrive in Taipei on the 2 Apr? The ticket taking due time is confusing me as it says 2017/03/19 00:00. What does the ticket taking due time mean? I can collect it at train stations on the 2nd Apr right?

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      1. The deadline is for payment.If you have paid before the deadline, you can take your tickets before departure.
        I would suggest collecting your tickets at convenient stores when you arrive Taiwan. You won't know how long is the queue in front of the ticket window.

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    28. What is the difference between Toroko and Puyuma? Is it just different views, but they both bring me from Taipei to Hualien and vice versa and takes the same time (about 2 hrs)? If so, is it advisable for me to travel by Toroko from Taipei to Hualien then take Puyuma from Hualien back to Taipei to enjoy the different scenery during the train rides?

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      1. Both are highest class train but provide by different manufactures. The duration is 2h~2.5h, not all Taroko/Puyuma stops at the same stations.
        The scenery is the same. If you can book Taroko/Puyuma Express, take them for your trip. However, the tickets of Taroko/Puyuma Express are difficult to book. You can try combo tickets if no tickets are available.
        http://taiwan-itinerary.blogspot.tw/2013/04/HualienTaipeiTransportation.html

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    29. Hi Chen, good morning.

      I know my question is out of the topic here. But may i know is the train from Taoyuan Terminal 1 to Taipei Main Station has been done? So, i dont need to take 1819 bus and save more time to stroll around Taipei Main Station :)

      I mean not the HSR, but the normal train which will go directly from terminal 1 to Taipei Main Station?

      Thanks so much for your kind help ya :) Hope to get the reply from you soon.

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      1. Airport MRT is in service now
        https://www.tymetro.com.tw/eng/index.php

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      2. wow! this really helps me a lot! one more thing to question, can we purchase easycard at Taoyuan airport terminal1? or the easycard only can be bought at 7-eleven store, etc once we reach taipei main station?

        thanks so much for your info ya! you really help me in deciding what transport to use and public transport schedule :D

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      3. Yes, you can buy easycard/ipass.
        There are also convenient stores at the airport.

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    30. Hello! Just like to ask about the booking of tickets online. I'd wished to book tickets from hualien to yilan via puyuma for 4th April, but apparently the website states there are no more seats left. Does this mean there is no totally no possibility to book for the seats anymore? Thanks!!

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      1. Train between Taipei & Hualien is hard to book in usual day.
        4th April is the end of 4-days holiday in Taiwan. All transportation to Taipei is extremely heavy. Even the local train will be crowded. If you could, change to another day.

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      2. Unfortunately, I have already confirmed accommodation at Toucheng Farm, so I cannnot change the date. Would it be possible to purchase non-reserved tickets for other express trains on the spot? If so, what would be the earliest timing I could purchase said non-reserved tickets? Thanks!

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      3. If you don't care weather you can have a seat or not and stand all the way, you can buy non-reserved ticket.
        Since Toucheng is a small station, not many express train stop here. You can take local train when you arrive Luodong station. It is much easy to find a seat in a local train.

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    31. Hi, where can I download the Ticket Pick-Up Form for Online Credit Card Payment? I forgot to print the Ticket Pick-Up Form after I paid online and closed the tab. Thank you :)

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      1. http://railway.hinet.net/OrderTicketOperation/efind.htm

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      2. Hi Sullivan, I went to the website you provided and found my booking record but there is no Ticket Pick-Up Form shown there which I can download. Kindly advise, thank you :)

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      3. You don't need any form. If you pick up your ticket at train station, give staff your id. If you pick up your ticket at kiosk in convenient stores, input your id number and booking code.

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    32. What do you suggest for taoyuan airport to taipei main station? I was initially planning to take 國光1819. But found out that there is a metro available. I guess metro would be faster?

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      1. There are direct train which stops at only 3 stations. But that won't make much difference different to you. Metro to Taipei is much easier for a foreign visitor since the station is easy to recognize.

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    33. 作者已經移除這則留言。

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    34. Hi Sullivan,
      When I booked four THSR tickets online, I was not asked to input passengers' names. If I go to collect the tickets at the ticket counter or convenience stores, do I need to show the passports of all the four passengers? I am collecting on their behalf as I am arriving two days before them. Thank you.

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      1. You can collect your tickets at convenient stores. The staff won't check the ID.

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    35. Hi Chen,

      Thank you for the informative. I'm travelling with 3 family folks (age 60 to 70 yr old). They are carying the big luggage due to the cold weather. As i'm travelling between the monsoon period (31 Aug to Sept). Is it still advisable to take this route? Or I should just take the internal domestic flight from taipei to hualien?
      Should I take on the internal domestic flight from taipei to hualien, am I able to take the train from hualien to see the Qingshui cliff?

      Sorry to bother you on the options.
      Would appreciate your advice so that I can make out the better choice for their needs.

      Best regards.
      Melano Chua

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      1. (1) If the budget is ok. you can take flight to Hualien. But flight won't be faster than train but double the price. It would be more complex by taking a flght as well
        (2) No train to Qinghsui cliff
        (3) I don't know what do you mean other route?
        The best traveling and popular season to Hualien is June~Nov.
        Weather is the problem for all routes in this season, not only for this route.

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      2. thank you for the prompt reply.

        I tried to book the train ticket, It list down the starting point and the ending station. However, for taipei express train station, is it near the airport?

        I wonder if i book the express train, the weather affecting the train will be cancelled. Will our paid ticket be refunded? Never encountered this issue. Hope it never appear on this trip.

        Very sorry for the situational issue.

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      3. (1) 2 airport around Taipei. If you mean TPE, it takes about 40 minutes by METRO
        (2) 100% refund if cancel by typhoon ,earth quack etc

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      4. Thank you for the prompt advice. I shall continue to book the train ticket to hualien. Hopefully everything is fine throughout. Do not wish to encounter any typhoon. Would like to ask, If i bought the easy card at the airport, am I allowed to use it on the express train from taipei main station to hualien?

        Thank you for the advice.

        Best regards

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      5. Yes, you can take express train by easycard "except" Taroko express and Puyuma. You need to adjust the fare when you arrive Hualien Station
        However, few people will do that since
        (1) It is highly possible that you need to stand in the train all the way to Hualien(at least 3 hours)
        (2) Total around NTD 400 if you take express train by easycard. You can use Combo ticket(NTD 210) with seat all the way.

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    36. I live in Taipei and I plan to go to Taroko on November 2017,

      Are there any late night trains that goes to Taroko?

      What time is the earliest schedule?

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      1. It takes 2-3 hours to Taroko Train stations. Midnight train won't help. Since most express trains to Hualien stations won't stop at Taroko stations, you can use combo tickets
        http://taiwan-itinerary.blogspot.tw/2013/04/HualienTaipeiTransportation.html

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    37. Hi, i am taking the express train from taoyuan international airport to taipei main station, and then take the TRA Tze chiang limited express train ride to hualien. How do i walk from taipei main station to the TRA counter.

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      1. (1)Taoyuan METRO, TRA, HSR, Taipei MRT are different system. If you say express train, others may consider it is TRA (both express train and Tze Chiang are TRA train)and get confused that why you need to transfer within TRA station?
        In fact the track system between the airport and Taipei Main Station is Taoyuan METRO. Local people don't call it train
        (2) A picture "Aisle to Taipei Main Station " shows there are clear sign leading you to Taipei Main Station
        http://taiwan-itinerary.blogspot.tw/2017/05/TaoyuanMRT.html
        (3) If you want to go to Hualien directly from the airport, there are some problems
        1.Express train to Hualien is hard to book
        2.It is hard to estimate when you can arrivel TMS and book the best train
        You can use combo ticket
        http://taiwan-itinerary.blogspot.tw/2013/04/HualienTaipeiTransportation.html
        (4) The time you arrive TPE matters, if you arrive in the afternoon, you can go to Hualien directly. Take a rest and go to Taroko the next morning.
        If you arrive TPE in the morning, you should stay Taipei for your first night and have a day trip to Hualien from Taipei.

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    38. hi Chen. I tried to book the tickets on railway.gov.tw from hualien to taipei for express train on October 1.
      when I clicked "book" it says ticket-pick up due day is september 19. I dont inderstand this part, does it mean we have to pick up the ticket on that day? if yes then its gonna be impossible because we arrve later than that. please advise. thank you so much

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      1. It means you need to pay before 19th. If you have paid, you can collect anytime before departure hour

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    39. Hi Chen,

      I will be travelling to Taiwan soon and trying to book online HSR from Taipei to Taichung for four people. However, I stuck at the page where it requires me to fill up GUI No. May I know can I skip this without causing any problems later? Do I need to fill up the particulars for other three passengers?

      Thank you so much!

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    40. Hi, thank you so much for detailed explanation. Do you know what is the refund process for cancelled express train ticket? I read on their website, but I'm not entirely clear about it.

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      1. If you take your tickets at train station,refund at any train station.If u take your ticket at 7-11,refund at 7-11.

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    41. If you take your tickets at train station,refund at any train station.If u take your ticket at 7-11,refund at 7-11.

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    42. Hi, I find difficulty in booking TRA tickets online from Kaohsiung to Hualien and Hualien to Taipei. Is it possible to buy tickets in Taipei Main Station instead on 12 Feb? I am planning take the trains next week Thursday 15 February. Appreciate your suggestion! Thank you.

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      1. You can try to book KAOHSIUMG-Taitung-Hualien.
        You can also go to Hualien from Taipei.It depends on whole itinerary.

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    43. HI, very informative post Chen, thanks for posting. I am planning to Travel from Taipei to Xincheng(Taroko Gorge) on 15th Feb. I need to take an early morning train and I am trying to book tickets since last 2-3 days but it says no tickets available. I tried to split journey and looked for tickets to Hualien, Yilan but all are sold out. Can i take the Chu-Kuang express without reservation by buying ticket at station? I am reaching Taipei on 14th, so can i get ticket on 14th from station? Also, without reservation, how likely we are able to get seat as I am travelling with a baby.
      Also, another option i am exploring is to take local train to Luodong and then another local train to Hualien. Let me know which option is more feasible? Also, what are the chances of getting seats in local train? Can I buy tickets for local trains in one day advance

      Thanks

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    44. Hi Chen! Thanks for great article. I am trying to book the train since last 3-4 days for 15th Feb (Taipei to Xincheng) but no seats available. I tried booking for Hualien as well but same problem, no tickets. Now i am exploring 2 options, can you please let me know the feasibility:
      1) Split journey in two and take local train to Luodong and then to Hualien. Can you please let me know if we can get seat in local trains or they are too crowded. Also, can i buy tickets in one day advance as I need to take an early morning train
      2) Other option i was exploring is to take non-reserved ticket for Ch- express to Xincheng. Does non-reserved seat means that I would have to stand throughout the 3 hour journey or there are some seat for non-reserved tickets as well?. Also, can i buy this ticket in one day advance or does it need to be bought on same day. Also, how would i identify, which section of coach is for reserved vs non-reserved seat?
      Please share your suggestions
      Thanks
      Nisha

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      1. Keep your plan as simple as possible.Try combo ticket
        http://taiwan-itinerary.blogspot.tw/2013/04/HualienTaipeiTransportation.html

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      2. There is earthquake in Hualien yesterday. The road and trails in Taroko are closed. You need to keep your itinerary flexible. For example, if the road is open when you arrive, you can have day trip to Taroko from Taipei. If not, you can have one more day in Taipei
        https://www.taroko.gov.tw/en/Event/NewsDetail?id=6617

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    45. dear mr. chen, from Taipei Main Station to Taichung Railway Station by TRA; from your own opinion, it's better for us to purchase the ticket via online or just walk in to the counter?

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      1. For a foreign visitor, it is better to confirm all of your itinerary as early as possible. The ticket may be sold out when you walk in to the counter.

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    46. Hi Chen.
      I have booked and paid for TRA and HSR online.
      Can I pick the tickets from convenient stores at Taoyuan Airport?

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    47. Hi Chen. Is it there has direct express train from Taoyuan Airport to Hualien? As many blog suggested from Taipei station to Hualien.

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      1. No train to the airport, only metro system to the airport from Taipei Station.

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    48. Hi Sullivan, I only managed to get the Chu-Kang train tickets via online booking from Taipei - Hualien. However, there is no mentioning of reserved seats. May I check as long as I manage to book & pay online for my Chu-kang train tickets online, there will be confirmed seats for us? Thanks in advance!

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    49. You won't get the seat number until u collect your tickets

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      1. Hi Sullivan, thanks for responding! However, may I know since we booked online, there will be a guaranteed seat, just that we will not know the seat number now only? Thanks!

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      2. You will get a guaranteed seat if you book online. Except Taroko/Puyuma express, unguaranted seat tickets are unlimited issueds.

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    50. Hi, I booked a ticket but need to modify the time. Is that possible? If so, how can I do that?

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    51. Hello,

      could I clarify that if I book tickets online for Taroko/Puyuma express, I will have a guaranteed seat?

      Also there is no expiry date for the collection of the tickets, right? (If I book tickets and only collect 10 days later)

      Thanks for the help!

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      1. Technically, Yes. Since Taroko/Puyu ma provide non-reserved tickets and passengers can book tickets partial reserved and non-reserved, you may book the combination if reserved (seats) tickets sold out under fully notification before booking
        For example, Taipei to Hualien is sold out but Yilan to Hualien reserved(seats) tickets are available. You may book Taipei to Hualien Puyuma/Taroko express with Taipei to Yilan with non-reserved ticket and Yilan to Hualien with reserved(seat) ticket in the same tickets as shown in the blog above.

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    52. Hello,

      could I clarify that if I book tickets online for Taroko/Puyuma express, I will have a guaranteed seat?

      Also there is no expiry date for the collection of the tickets, right? (If I book tickets and only collect 10 days later)

      Thanks for the help!

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    53. Hi! I booked online for Puyuma Express to Hualien. May I know if I can still change my departure time to Hualien at Taipei Main Station to an earlier departure time in case I will arrive early at the station? If yes, are there any charges?

      Thanks

      Loraine

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      1. Yes, you can change. You can change ticket 30 minutes before depature time. The first time change is free.

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