Taiwan Transportation Information
Public transportation is terrific in Taiwan, particularly with the High Speed Rail [HSR] and Taiwan Railway. Major cities like Taipei and Kaohsiung also have great Mass Rapid Transportation [MRT] systems.
Mainly due to earthquakes, counties on Taiwan’s East coast are understandably more precautious when it comes to major transportation development. However, these areas are still accessible thanks to the Taiwan Railway and hundreds of bus routes!
HSR
Route: Taipei Nangang to Kaohsiung Zuoying (along the West coast)
Payment: can pay card or cash through T-Express app, at convenience store’s iBon machine, or directly through website below (can reserve a seat one-month ahead of time, no earlier)
Tip: it is possible to reserve a seat via the T-Express app before opening a Taiwan bank account by selecting to “Pay at a convenience store.” They will add a $10NTD fee after you pay the reserved seat.
High Speed Rail (website)
Taiwan Railway
Route: loops the whole island of Taiwan (East coast included)
Payment: Taiwan Railway e-Booking app or directly through website below
Taiwan Railway (website)
Busses
Payment: Yoyo Card, provided in Taiwan; to board, tap your Yoyo Card against the receiver and it will announce “上車 shangche” [on vehicle]; to depart, tap it again before leaving and it will announce “下車 xiache” [off vehicle].
Tips: recommend to download Bus+ app (English provided in app) for bus and MRT routes; avoid seats that are provided for “pregnant, elder, youth passengers” on public transportation (often two seats of different color to rest)
MRTs (Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Taoyuan)
Payment: Yoyo Card, provided in Taiwan; to enter station, tap your Yoyo Card against the receiver at the turnstile gate; to exit, tap it again before leaving.
Tips: recommend to download Bus+ app for MRT routes and times also; if you have collection of $1NTD coins, you can bring them to an MRT station and add them to your Yoyo Card total; avoid seats that are provided for the “pregnant, elder, youth passengers” (often two seats of different color to rest)
Website: refer to Bus+