Taiwan Railways to Implement Major Timetable Change on July 1, Affecting 653 Train Services

Central News Agency (CNA), Taipei, May 8th - To enhance the operational efficiency of West-Line direct trains, increase service frequency during peak commuter hours to reduce waiting times, and boost capacity on the East-Line between Taipei and Yilan, Taiwan Railways Corporation (TRC) will implement a major timetable change starting July 1. A total of 653 train services will have their schedules adjusted, with 313 of them changing by more than 5 minutes. The new schedule will be available for inquiry on the official website starting May 11. In a press release today, TRC stated that the timetable adjustment is part of an overall capacity allocation and planning effort to improve service quality and is also in preparation for the expected opening of the Pingzhen temporary station in October 2026. The adjustment focuses on three main points. First, enhancing the operational efficiency of West-Line direct trains. TRC noted that besides optimizing the schedules of direct services and upgrading rolling stock, some direct trains will have their stops adjusted to better serve residents in the Taoyuan and Hsinchu areas. Additionally, on Saturdays and Sundays, two extra Puyuma Express direct services will be added between Taipei and Taichung. After the adjustment, the capacity of direct services between Taipei and Taichung will increase by 7.9% on weekdays and 16.9% on holidays. Second, increasing service frequency during peak commuter hours on the West-Line. TRC will prioritize serving commuters in metropolitan areas, shortening intervals between services to reduce waiting times and improve ride quality. In the northern region, two additional EMU900 series local express trains will run between Puxin and Qidu during weekday peak hours, increasing the peak-hour capacity of local trains in the northern region by 4.8%. In the southern region, two additional PP-series Tze-Chiang Limited Express trains will run between Chaozhou and Xinying during weekday peak hours, adding 1,132 seats to the southern region''s capacity. For the Liujia Branch Line, 12 additional local train services will be added daily during peak hours. This will not only increase the frequency of services on the branch line but also reduce passenger waiting times, better serving commuters from Zhubei, the Hsinchu Science Park, and business travelers connecting to the High-Speed Rail. The capacity of the Liujia Branch Line will increase by 20% after the adjustment. Third, boosting capacity on the East-Line between Taipei and Yilan. TRC pointed out that some Tze-Chiang Limited Express trains will add a stop at Jiaoxi Station. Furthermore, two extra Tze-Chiang Limited Express services will be added between Taipei and Hualien on Saturdays and Sundays, primarily stopping at stations in the Yilan area. This aims to distribute travel demand and alleviate traffic congestion on National Freeway 5, encouraging the public to use public transportation and reduce environmental impact. To optimize overall capacity, TRC stated that this timetable change, in addition to strengthening regional commuter services, optimizing direct train services, and increasing capacity between Taipei and Yilan, also accelerates the replacement of Chu-Kuang Express train sets. It involves consolidation, substitution, and schedule adjustments for fleets on both the East and West Lines, emphasizing the use of the new EMU3000 series Tze-Chiang Limited Express fleet to improve cabin quietness and provide passengers with greater convenience and comfort for travel between metropolitan areas. According to TRC statistics, a total of 653 services will be adjusted, with 313 of them having their times changed by more than five minutes. TRC advises the public to check the TRC official website, the ''TRC e-Booking'' app, and station announcements for relevant train numbers and schedules starting May 11. Group ticket bookings will be available from May 12, and general passenger ticket bookings will open on June 3. TRC will enhance publicity and reminds passengers to pay close attention to the changes. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 20260508