Taoyuan's 9-Seater Minibus Routes to Reach 120 by Year-End, Aims to Ease Bus Driver Shortage
Taoyuan City's Department of Transportation plans to expand its 9-seater "Taoyuan Minibus" service to 120 routes by the end of the year. This initiative aims to alleviate the shortage of bus drivers by replacing existing routes and establishing new ones, thereby improving public bus service coverage.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 3, 2026 at 17:16
- 🔍 Collected: May 3, 2026 at 17:31 (15 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 3, 2026 at 17:34 (2 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Wu Rui-chi, Taoyuan, May 3) To alleviate the driver shortage, the Taoyuan City Department of Transportation first replaced free buses with 9-seater "Taoyuan Minibuses" in Guanyin District in July 2024. Currently, 50 "Taoyuan Minibus" routes have been established, and the number is expected to reach 120 by the end of the year, alleviating the manpower shortage by opening new routes or replacing existing public bus routes.
The Taoyuan City Government Department of Transportation stated today that Taoyuan City has faced a shortage of drivers in recent years, and some remote or low-ridership routes have faced pressure from schedule adjustments or even suspensions. In addition to training drivers themselves, the city government is transforming public buses with fewer passengers and free bus routes into "Taoyuan Minibuses." Because the entry threshold for 9-seater vehicle drivers is low, the transformed routes can also free up original driver manpower.
The Department of Transportation said that with the "Dayuan MRT Station-Xinwu" and Taoyuan District's "Zhonglu Loop Line" routes launched on May 1, there are currently 50 "Taoyuan Minibus" routes. It is expected to increase to 120 routes by the end of this year, at which time all 13 districts will have "Taoyuan Minibuses" in service. In addition to replacing existing bus routes, new routes will focus on areas without bus routes, with road widths between 5 and 12 meters, route lengths within 10 kilometers, travel times between 30 and 60 minutes, a certain number of passengers, and connecting points from communities to trunk bus nodes, and the network configuration will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The Department of Transportation pointed out that the entry threshold for "Taoyuan Minibus" drivers is lower, and each route's operating bus company is responsible for recruitment. In addition to alleviating the shortage of bus drivers, it also increases the coverage rate of public bus services. There are currently 820 public bus drivers in Taoyuan City, and the shortage has dropped to about 130 people. The planned routes for "Taoyuan Minibuses" are to make up for areas not covered by public buses. Currently, the average number of passengers per trip is between 2 and 4 people. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150503
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(Central News Agency reporter Wu Rui-chi, Taoyuan, May 3) To alleviate the driver shortage, the Taoyuan City Department of Transportation first replaced free buses with 9-seater "Taoyuan Minibuses" in Guanyin District in July 2024. Currently, 50 "Taoyuan Minibus" routes have been established, and the number is expected to reach 120 by the end of the year, alleviating the manpower shortage by opening new routes or replacing existing public bus routes.
The Taoyuan City Government Department of Transportation stated today that Taoyuan City has faced a shortage of drivers in recent years, and some remote or low-ridership routes have faced pressure from schedule adjustments or even suspensions. In addition to training drivers themselves, the city government is transforming public buses with fewer passengers and free bus routes into "Taoyuan Minibuses." Because the entry threshold for 9-seater vehicle drivers is low, the transformed routes can also free up original driver manpower.
The Department of Transportation said that with the "Dayuan MRT Station-Xinwu" and Taoyuan District's "Zhonglu Loop Line" routes launched on May 1, there are currently 50 "Taoyuan Minibus" routes. It is expected to increase to 120 routes by the end of this year, at which time all 13 districts will have "Taoyuan Minibuses" in service. In addition to replacing existing bus routes, new routes will focus on areas without bus routes, with road widths between 5 and 12 meters, route lengths within 10 kilometers, travel times between 30 and 60 minutes, a certain number of passengers, and connecting points from communities to trunk bus nodes, and the network configuration will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The Department of Transportation pointed out that the entry threshold for "Taoyuan Minibus" drivers is lower, and each route's operating bus company is responsible for recruitment. In addition to alleviating the shortage of bus drivers, it also increases the coverage rate of public bus services. There are currently 820 public bus drivers in Taoyuan City, and the shortage has dropped to about 130 people. The planned routes for "Taoyuan Minibuses" are to make up for areas not covered by public buses. Currently, the average number of passengers per trip is between 2 and 4 people. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150503
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Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcasted, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.