Civic Group Poll Shows Public Preference for Direct Railway Over HSR Extension to Yilan
A civic group, Citizen-Push, announced on the 19th the results of a self-initiated opinion poll, which indicates that Yilan locals are generally reserved about the High-Speed Rail (HSR) extension project. The poll suggests that after considering factors like transfers, long-term development for Yilan, and costs, the public prefers the Taiwan Railways' (TRA) "Taipei-Yilan Direct Railway" proposal. This finding shows a significant gap with the "local anticipation" repeatedly claimed by the government.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 19, 2026 at 15:50
- 🔍 Collected: May 19, 2026 at 16:01 (11 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 19, 2026 at 23:47 (7h 45m after Collected)
(CNA, by reporter Yu Hsiao-han, Taipei, 19th) The proposed High-Speed Rail (HSR) extension to Yilan has drawn significant attention. Today, a civic group released results from its own opinion poll, showing that local public opinion in Yilan is generally reserved about the HSR extension plan. Especially after considering factors such as transfers, long-term development for Yilan, and costs, there is a stronger preference for the Taiwan Railways' (TRA) "Taipei-Yilan Direct Railway" project.
The HSR extension to Yilan passed the main Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) committee review last August and is awaiting approval from the Executive Yuan. According to the website of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Railway Bureau, the project extends eastward from Nangang Station, bypasses the Feitsui Reservoir catchment area, and passes through Xizhi, Pingxi, Shuangxi, and Gongliao in New Taipei City, as well as Toucheng and Jiaoxi in Yilan County, to a new station in Yilan. The route is approximately 60.6 kilometers long, with the HSR Yilan Station to be located south of the Yilan County Government Center, and a maintenance base to be established north of the Lanyang River.
Civic groups, including Citizen-Push, held a press conference today to announce the results of a national telephone survey conducted by Dian Tong Inc., as well as questionnaire results collected on-site at the three major transport hubs in Jiaoxi, Yilan City, and Luodong.
Citizen-Push stated that the poll targeted individuals aged 18 and over with travel experience on the Taipei-Yilan route. A dual-frame (landline and mobile) national telephone survey was conducted from February 23 to March 1. To avoid skewed results due to the lower population proportions in Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung, the survey was divided into four groups based on county of residence (Yilan County; Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, Taoyuan; counties south of Hsinchu; and Hualien/Taitung residents). The sampling error for each group was within 4.5%, and the sample structure was weighted to be representative of the population.
Citizen-Push indicated that the survey shows local opinion in Yilan is generally reserved about the HSR extension, revealing a significant discrepancy with the government's repeated claims of "local anticipation."
According to the poll results, regarding "travel time/frequency/fare," Yilan County residents preferred the TRA direct railway for short-distance trips "to and from the Taipei metropolitan area" and the HSR for long-distance trips "to and from areas south of Taoyuan." Residents of Hualien, Taitung, and the greater Taipei area preferred the TRA direct railway, while residents south of Hsinchu preferred the HSR. Travelers at Yilan's transportation hubs preferred the TRA direct railway.
The poll also showed that once issues like "transfers," "Yilan's long-term development," and "construction and operational costs" were included, respondents from all four surveyed regions and travelers at transport hubs clearly preferred the TRA direct railway.
Citizen-Push Chairman Huang Chien-hsing stated that during three meetings of the EIA review panel, multiple committee members repeatedly asked the Railway Bureau to enhance social communication, but the Bureau's actual response failed to meet the committee's requirements.
Liu Chung-shu, spokesperson for the Alliance to Supervise the HSR Extension to Yilan, said that the government should complete the citizen participation process and conduct in-depth dialogue.
The HSR extension to Yilan passed the main Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) committee review last August and is awaiting approval from the Executive Yuan. According to the website of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Railway Bureau, the project extends eastward from Nangang Station, bypasses the Feitsui Reservoir catchment area, and passes through Xizhi, Pingxi, Shuangxi, and Gongliao in New Taipei City, as well as Toucheng and Jiaoxi in Yilan County, to a new station in Yilan. The route is approximately 60.6 kilometers long, with the HSR Yilan Station to be located south of the Yilan County Government Center, and a maintenance base to be established north of the Lanyang River.
Civic groups, including Citizen-Push, held a press conference today to announce the results of a national telephone survey conducted by Dian Tong Inc., as well as questionnaire results collected on-site at the three major transport hubs in Jiaoxi, Yilan City, and Luodong.
Citizen-Push stated that the poll targeted individuals aged 18 and over with travel experience on the Taipei-Yilan route. A dual-frame (landline and mobile) national telephone survey was conducted from February 23 to March 1. To avoid skewed results due to the lower population proportions in Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung, the survey was divided into four groups based on county of residence (Yilan County; Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, Taoyuan; counties south of Hsinchu; and Hualien/Taitung residents). The sampling error for each group was within 4.5%, and the sample structure was weighted to be representative of the population.
Citizen-Push indicated that the survey shows local opinion in Yilan is generally reserved about the HSR extension, revealing a significant discrepancy with the government's repeated claims of "local anticipation."
According to the poll results, regarding "travel time/frequency/fare," Yilan County residents preferred the TRA direct railway for short-distance trips "to and from the Taipei metropolitan area" and the HSR for long-distance trips "to and from areas south of Taoyuan." Residents of Hualien, Taitung, and the greater Taipei area preferred the TRA direct railway, while residents south of Hsinchu preferred the HSR. Travelers at Yilan's transportation hubs preferred the TRA direct railway.
The poll also showed that once issues like "transfers," "Yilan's long-term development," and "construction and operational costs" were included, respondents from all four surveyed regions and travelers at transport hubs clearly preferred the TRA direct railway.
Citizen-Push Chairman Huang Chien-hsing stated that during three meetings of the EIA review panel, multiple committee members repeatedly asked the Railway Bureau to enhance social communication, but the Bureau's actual response failed to meet the committee's requirements.
Liu Chung-shu, spokesperson for the Alliance to Supervise the HSR Extension to Yilan, said that the government should complete the citizen participation process and conduct in-depth dialogue.