Taiwan’s Executive Yuan has given the green light to two significant high-speed rail expansion projects, aiming to enhance the nation’s connectivity. The developments include a new line extending to Yilan County and another connecting Kaohsiung to Pingtung County. Premier Cho Jung-tai has approved the 60.6-kilometer extension from Nangang to Yilan, projected to cost NT$352.2 billion (US$10.9 billion). This extension promises to cut travel time between Taipei and Yilan to around 28 minutes, a substantial improvement over the current rail services.
The proposed route will start at Nangang HSR Station in Taipei, crossing through various districts in New Taipei City such as Sijhih, Pingsi, Shuangsi, and Gongliao, before entering Yilan through Toucheng and Jiaosi townships. It will end at a new HSR station near the Yilan County Government complex, providing seamless connections to the existing Yilan Railway Station. The construction is slated for completion by 2037, with the Railway Bureau forecasting a daily ridership of about 27,000 passengers on weekdays and 60,000 on weekends by 2051.
In addition to the Yilan line, the Executive Yuan has approved a 26.22-kilometer HSR extension that will link Zuoying HSR Station in Kaohsiung with a planned station in Lioukuaitso, Pingtung City, via Kaohsiung Railway Station. The authorities intend to finalize the project’s second-stage environmental impact assessment by next year.
These railway expansions are integral to the government’s comprehensive plan to establish a nationwide rail network, enabling travel across Taiwan in four interconnected 90-minute segments. The strategy also includes upgrading the Hualien–Taitung railway to a double-track electrified line and enhancing the South Link Line between Taitung and Pingtung. These upgrades are designed to boost capacity, improve resilience to extreme weather, and strengthen the island’s transportation infrastructure.