Taiwan is set to enhance its high-speed rail network with the approval of two significant expansion projects by the Executive Yuan, aimed at boosting connectivity across the nation. The plans include a new line extending to Yilan County and another that will connect Kaohsiung to Pingtung County. Premier Cho Jung-tai has given the green light for a 60.6-kilometre extension from Nangang to Yilan, with an estimated budget of NT$352.2 billion (US$10.9 billion). This extension promises to slash travel time from Taipei to Yilan to just 28 minutes, a notable improvement over current rail services.
The proposed route will commence at Nangang HSR Station in Taipei, traversing through several districts in New Taipei City such as Sijhih, Pingsi, Shuangsi, and Gongliao. It will then enter Yilan through Toucheng and Jiaosi townships, concluding at a newly planned HSR station near the Yilan County Government complex. This station will offer seamless connections to Yilan Railway Station. The project is projected to be completed by 2037, and according to the Railway Bureau, it is expected to accommodate around 27,000 passengers on weekdays and 60,000 on weekends by 2051.
In addition to the Yilan extension, the Executive Yuan has also sanctioned a 26.22-kilometre HSR line that will link Zuoying HSR Station in Kaohsiung with a future station in Lioukuaitso, Pingtung City, via Kaohsiung Railway Station. The authorities are working towards completing the second-stage environmental impact assessment for this project in the coming year.
These railway expansions are integral to the government’s comprehensive strategy to establish a nationwide rail network that facilitates travel across Taiwan in four interconnected 90-minute segments. The broader plan encompasses upgrading the Hualien–Taitung railway to a double-track electrified line and enhancing the South Link Line between Taitung and Pingtung. These improvements aim to boost capacity, fortify resilience against extreme weather, and significantly enhance the island’s transportation infrastructure.