Taiwan Railway Administration - Service

Service

Trains are divided into five classes, higher classes generally stop at fewer stations resulting in faster service. The classes are:

• Tzu-Chiang Express (Tsu-chiang / 自強): The fastest (and most expensive). Assigned seating. Non-reserved (standing) tickets are also sold at full price. There are 3 types of Tsz-chiang: EMU electric multiple unit (brown, now red), push-pull (orange/silver) and diesel (yellow/silver). Tickets for all 3 types of Tsz-chiang are the same price.
• Chu-Kuang Express (Chu-kwang / 莒光): Second fastest. Assigned seating. Non-reserved tickets are sold at 80% of original price.
• Fu-Hsing Semi Express (復興): Phased out of normal service. Now only runs between Shulin (Taipei) and Taidong via Hualian Friday-Monday.
• Local Express (區間快車): Usually run on the Sea line and Yilan line. Fu-hsing service at a local train's price. Launched in 2007.
• Local Train (區間車): Short to medium distance commuter train, stops at all stations. No assigned seating. The former EMU (Electric multiple unit / 電車) and DRC (Diesel railcar / 柴客).
• Express / Ordinary (普通): Stops at all stations, no air conditioning, most inexpensive. No assigned seating. Some Express trains (the light blue ones running on West Trunk Line) are air-conditioned while others (dark blue ones) are not equipped with air conditioners. Currently operational only on the southern end of the Western Line and being phased out with termination of service expected by the end of 2006. No longer running on the west coast.
• Diesel Express: Only available on East Trunk Line and South Link Line. Mainly serve as commuter trains. No air conditioning. Tickets are the same price as Express and Ordinary.
• Taroko Express (太魯閣號): An express train service operating between Hualien and Hsinchu or Changhua, via Taipei. Uses tilting trains.

With the exception of the Ordinary trains, all trains are modern and air conditioned. Many of the Ordinary train cars, on the other hand, are almost 40 to 50 years old, and provide an interesting experience for the more historically minded.