Kaohsiung MRT System Sets New Ridership Record, Daily Average Exceeds 240,000 in Q1 2026
The Kaohsiung MRT system (MRT and Light Rail) achieved a new ridership high, with over 240,000 daily average passengers in Q1 2026. This growth is attributed to city marketing and the TPASS commuter pass. To accommodate increased student commuters, an additional peak-hour train from Siaogang to Gangshan will be added.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 13:13
- 🔍 Collected: April 21, 2026 at 13:31 (18 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 14:46 (1h 14m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA reporter Cai Meng-hsiung, Kaohsiung 21st) The Kaohsiung MRT system has reached a new high in ridership. The Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation announced today statistics indicating that the daily average ridership for Kaohsiung MRT's Red and Orange lines, and the Light Rail, exceeded 240,000 passengers in the first quarter of this year (2026). Starting immediately, an additional peak-hour train from Siaogang to Gangshan will be added on weekdays to accommodate increased student commuters after school.
The Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation stated that the entire Kaohsiung MRT system, including the Red and Orange lines and the Light Rail, achieved a daily average ridership of over 248,600 in the first quarter of this year. This includes 205,300 for the MRT and 43,300 for the Light Rail, representing a growth of nearly 4.2% compared to the same period last year. The most significant growth this year has been a structural increase in commuter and student populations.
The Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation analyzed that the key factors for the continuous increase in ridership, in addition to the Kaohsiung City Government's ongoing promotion of various urban marketing activities to attract people, also include the continuous deepening of the TPASS commuter monthly pass. Benefiting from the attractive monthly pass fares, the basic flow of commuters and students has steadily increased.
Data shows that the number of people using TPASS and MeNGo commuter monthly passes on weekdays this year increased by 9.2% compared to last year, with the most noticeable increase in peak-hour traffic during school drop-off and pick-up times at R16 Zuoying Station and R11 Kaohsiung Main Station on the Red Line.
The Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation indicated that to cope with the continuously increasing number of commuters and students, they have planned to add one extra train from Siaogang to Gangshan during weekday afternoon peak hours, specifically targeting students leaving school. This will result in a 5 to 6-minute intensified service interval from Houjing Senior High School Station after 4:12 PM, advancing the peak hour dispersal mode by 20 minutes.
The Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation emphasized that a steadily growing commuter population is crucial for the sustainable operation of the MRT. In the future, they will continue to cooperate with the city government's transportation policies to provide a more punctual and comfortable riding environment. (Editor: Li Hsi-chang) 1150421
(CNA reporter Cai Meng-hsiung, Kaohsiung 21st) The Kaohsiung MRT system has reached a new high in ridership. The Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation announced today statistics indicating that the daily average ridership for Kaohsiung MRT's Red and Orange lines, and the Light Rail, exceeded 240,000 passengers in the first quarter of this year (2026). Starting immediately, an additional peak-hour train from Siaogang to Gangshan will be added on weekdays to accommodate increased student commuters after school.
The Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation stated that the entire Kaohsiung MRT system, including the Red and Orange lines and the Light Rail, achieved a daily average ridership of over 248,600 in the first quarter of this year. This includes 205,300 for the MRT and 43,300 for the Light Rail, representing a growth of nearly 4.2% compared to the same period last year. The most significant growth this year has been a structural increase in commuter and student populations.
The Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation analyzed that the key factors for the continuous increase in ridership, in addition to the Kaohsiung City Government's ongoing promotion of various urban marketing activities to attract people, also include the continuous deepening of the TPASS commuter monthly pass. Benefiting from the attractive monthly pass fares, the basic flow of commuters and students has steadily increased.
Data shows that the number of people using TPASS and MeNGo commuter monthly passes on weekdays this year increased by 9.2% compared to last year, with the most noticeable increase in peak-hour traffic during school drop-off and pick-up times at R16 Zuoying Station and R11 Kaohsiung Main Station on the Red Line.
The Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation indicated that to cope with the continuously increasing number of commuters and students, they have planned to add one extra train from Siaogang to Gangshan during weekday afternoon peak hours, specifically targeting students leaving school. This will result in a 5 to 6-minute intensified service interval from Houjing Senior High School Station after 4:12 PM, advancing the peak hour dispersal mode by 20 minutes.
The Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation emphasized that a steadily growing commuter population is crucial for the sustainable operation of the MRT. In the future, they will continue to cooperate with the city government's transportation policies to provide a more punctual and comfortable riding environment. (Editor: Li Hsi-chang) 1150421