View source for Taiwan High Speed Rail

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{{hatnote|For rail transport in Taiwan generally, see [[Rail transport in Taiwan]]. For high-speed rail in the People's Republic of China (PRC), see [[High-speed rail in China]].}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
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{{Infobox public transit
| box_width = 
| name = 
| image = THSR.svg
| alt = 
| imagesize = 
| caption = 
| image2 = THSR_700T_TR17_20130907.jpg
| alt2 = 
| imagesize2 = 320px
| caption2 = A [[THSR 700T]] train running Taiwan High Speed Rail line
| image3 = 
| alt3 = 
| imagesize3 = 
| caption3 = 
| owner = Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation{{efn|under a [[Build, Operate and Transfer|BOT]] concession until 2067<ref>{{cite web|title=HSR Planning|url=http://www.hsr.gov.tw/homepage.nsf/2274ba1db71bcceb48256921002b7f08/824eef7a368d87264825729800391614?OpenDocument|website=www.hsr.gov.tw|access-date=5 May 2017|archive-date=13 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313080018/http://www.hsr.gov.tw/homepage.nsf/2274ba1db71bcceb48256921002b7f08/824eef7a368d87264825729800391614?OpenDocument|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| area served = [[Taiwan]] (main island only)
| transit_type = [[High-speed rail]]way
| lines = 1
| line_number = 
| start = {{stl|Taiwan High Speed Rail|Nangang}}
| end = {{stl|Taiwan High Speed Rail|Zuoying}}
| stations = 12
| daily_ridership = 
| annual_ridership = 81,882,961 (2023) {{increase}}&nbsp;61.8%
| chief_executive = <!-- or | key_people = -->
| headquarters = 
| website = [https://www.thsrc.com.tw thsrc.com.tw]
| began_operation = {{start date and age |2007|01|05}}
| operation_will_start = 
| ended_operation = 
| operator = Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation
| marks = 
| host = 
| character = Elevated, Underground, At-grade
| vehicles = 
| train_length = 
| headway = 
| system_length = {{convert|350|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| notrack = 2
| track_gauge = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}
| minimum_radius_of_curvature = <!-- -->
| el = [[25 kV AC railway electrification#25 kV AC at 60 Hz|25 kV 60 Hz AC]] from [[overhead line|overhead catenary]]
| top_speed = {{convert|300|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}
| map = {{switcher
|{{Rapid transit OSM map
| frame-height = 440
| stations     = y
| single_line  = y
}}
|Show interactive map
|[[File:TaiwanHighSpeedRail Route Map 2022.png|275px]]
|Show static map
|{{Taiwan HSR RDT|inline=y}}
|Show route diagram map
}}
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| title = Taiwan High Speed Rail
| t = 台灣高速鐵路
| s = 台湾高速铁路
| p = Táiwān gāosù tiělù
| poj = Tâi-oân Ko-sok Thih-lō͘
| tl = Tâi-uân Ko-sok Thih-lōo
| altname = 
| t2 = 台灣高鐵
| s2 = 台湾高铁
| l2 = "Taiwan high rail"
| p2 = Táiwān gāotiě
| poj2 = Tâi-oân Ko-thih
| tl2 = Tâi-uân Ko-thih
}}

'''Taiwan High Speed Rail''' ('''THSR''') is a [[high-speed rail]]way network in [[Taiwan]], which consists of a single line that runs approximately {{convert|350|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} along the western coast of the island, from [[Taipei]] in the north to the southern city of [[Kaohsiung]]. Its construction was managed by a private company, Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC), which also operates the line. The total cost of the project was {{ntd|513.3}} billion in 1998.<ref>{{cite web |title=計畫介紹 |url=https://www.hsr.gov.tw/showpage.php?lmenuid=3&smenuid=68&tmenuid=93 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210134129/https://www.hsr.gov.tw/showpage.php?lmenuid=3&smenuid=68&tmenuid=93 |archive-date=10 December 2017 |access-date=12 January 2018 |website=www.hsr.gov.tw |language=zh}}</ref> The system's technology is based primarily on Japan's [[Shinkansen]].

The railway opened for service on 5 January 2007, with trains running at a top speed of {{convert|300|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}. Trains make the trip from [[Nangang station|Nangang]] to [[Zuoying HSR station|Zuoying]] in as little as 1 hour and 45 minutes. Most intermediate stations on the line lie outside the cities served; however, a variety of transfer options, such as free shuttle buses, conventional rail, and metros have been constructed to facilitate transport connections.

Ridership initially fell short of forecasts, but grew from fewer than 40,000 passengers per day in the first few months of operation to over 129,000 passengers per day in June 2013.<ref name="tt-1stdr">{{cite news |last=Shan |first=Shelley |date=27 May 2007 |title=Local drivers pass high speed rail exams |newspaper=[[Taipei Times]] |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/05/27/2003362635 |access-date=4 March 2011 |archive-date=28 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628213857/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/05/27/2003362635 |url-status=live }}</ref> Daily passenger traffic reached 130,000 in 2014, well below the forecast of 240,000 daily passengers for 2008.<ref name=NAR>{{cite news|title='Shinkansen' operation a flop in Taiwan|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Shinkansen-operation-a-flop-in-Taiwan|access-date=20 September 2017|work=Nikkei Asian Review|date=5 November 2015|archive-date=21 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121221913/https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Shinkansen-operation-a-flop-in-Taiwan|url-status=dead}}</ref> The system had carried over 400 million passengers by December 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/business/201612050014|title=Taiwan high-speed rail ridership breaks 400 million mark – Focus Taiwan|website=focustaiwan.tw|access-date=10 July 2021|archive-date=9 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209035818/https://focustaiwan.tw/business/201612050014|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the initial years of operation, THSRC accumulated high debts due to high [[depreciation]] charges and interest, largely due to the financial structure set up for the private company. In 2009, THSRC negotiated with the government to change the method of depreciation from depending on concessions on rights to ridership.<ref>{{cite news |last=press release |first=Bureau of High Speed Rail |date=18 November 2011 |title=針對媒體報導，就高鐵新增三站及高鐵折舊問題，高鐵局說明澄清(in Chinese) |newspaper=MOTC, Taiwan |url=http://210.69.99.7/mocwebGIP/wSite/ct?xItem=20155&ctNode=502&mp=1 |access-date=7 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130627144355/http://210.69.99.7/mocwebGIP/wSite/ct?xItem=20155&ctNode=502&mp=1 |archive-date=27 June 2013 }}</ref> At the same time, the government also started to help [[refinancing|refinance]] THSRC's loans to assist the company so it could remain operational and profitable.<ref name="THSRC_IRJ">{{cite news |last= Smith |first= Glenn |date= October 2011 |title= Into the black — how Taiwan turned around its troubled high-speed line |magazine= International Railway Journal |url= http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/static/digital-edition-archive.html |access-date= 1 October 2011 |archive-date= 28 November 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161128150450/http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/static/digital-edition-archive.html |url-status= live }}</ref> The government injected NT$30 billion as a financial bailout, boosting the government's stake to about 64% from about 37%.<ref name=NAR/> The government also extended the rail concession from 35 years to 70 years and terminated the company's build-operate-transfer business model.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zhao|first1=Eric|title=LPC-Taiwan's High Speed Rail Corp's lenders agree restructuring plan|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/taiwan-rail-loan/lpc-taiwans-high-speed-rail-corps-lenders-agree-restructuring-plan-idUSL5N10G2JZ20150805|access-date=20 September 2017|work=Reuters|date=5 August 2015|archive-date=20 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920101653/http://www.reuters.com/article/taiwan-rail-loan/lpc-taiwans-high-speed-rail-corps-lenders-agree-restructuring-plan-idUSL5N10G2JZ20150805|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
[[Taiwan Miracle|Taiwan's rapid economic growth]] during the latter half of the twentieth century led to congestion of highways, conventional rail, and air traffic systems in the western transport corridor, which threatened to impede the region's development.<ref name="NEXI">{{cite web |url=http://nexi.go.jp/service/sv_m-tokusyu/sv_m_tokusyu_0305b.html |script-title=ja:台湾高速鉄道プロジェクト／日本連合受注経緯 |language=ja |date=May 2003 |publisher=[[Nippon Export and Investment Insurance]] |access-date=11 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429185002/http://nexi.go.jp/service/sv_m-tokusyu/sv_m_tokusyu_0305b.html |archive-date=29 April 2008 }}</ref><ref name="albalate">{{cite book |last1=Albalate |first1=Daniel |last2=Bel |first2=Germa |title=The Economics and Politics of High-Speed Rail : Lessons from Experiences Abroad |date=14 June 2012 |publisher=Lexington Books |isbn=9780739171240 |pages=113–133 |chapter=Other Experiences }}</ref>{{rp|125}} The idea of a new high-speed rail line arose in the 1970s,<ref name="NEXI" /> and informal planning began in 1980.<ref name="nytcontroversy">{{cite news |last=Bradsher |first=Keith |date=4 January 2007 |title=Taiwan's Bullet Trains Can't Outrun Controversy |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/04/world/asia/04taipei.html |access-date=24 April 2008 |archive-date=21 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121200612/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/04/world/asia/04taipei.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1987, the executive branch of Taiwan's government, the [[Executive Yuan]], instructed the [[Ministry of Transportation and Communications (Republic of China)|Ministry of Transportation]] to launch a feasibility study for a high-speed rail line in the western Taiwan corridor,<ref name="NEXI" /> which was completed in 1990.<ref name="JRTR">{{cite journal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613163935/http://www.jrtr.net/jrtr48/pdf/f40_Shi.pdf |archive-date=13 June 2011 |last=Shima |first=Takashi |url=http://www.jrtr.net/jrtr48/pdf/f40_Shi.pdf |title=Taiwan High Speed Rail |journal=Japan Railway & Transport Review |issue=48 |pages=40–46 |date=August 2007 |access-date=13 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The study found that in a comparison of potential solutions to traffic problems in the corridor, a high-speed rail line would offer the highest transit volume, lowest land use, highest energy savings, and least pollution.<ref name="NEXI" /> In July 1990 the Preparation Office of High Speed Rail (POHSR) was established<ref name="NEXI" /> and a route was selected in 1991.<ref name="nytcontroversy" /> Plans for the THSR were subsequently approved by the Executive Yuan in June 1992<ref name="NEXI" /> and by Taiwan's [[legislature]], the [[Legislative Yuan]], in 1993.<ref name="JRTR" />

===Build-Operate-Transfer===

In November 1994, Taiwan passed a law regarding the use of private finance in infrastructure projects, which also applied to the up-to-then state-run THSR project.<ref name="NEXI" /> Consequently, in 1995, POHSR was transformed into the Bureau of High Speed Rail (BOHSR), which started to tender THSR as a [[build-operate-transfer]] (BOT) scheme in October 1996.<ref name="NEXI" /><ref name="JRTR" />

The bidding process pitted Taiwan High Speed Rail Consortium (THSRC) against the Chunghwa High Speed Rail Consortium (CHSRC). THSRC's bid was based on the high-speed technology platform of [[Eurotrain]], a joint venture between [[Alstom|GEC-Alsthom]], the main maker of the French [[TGV]], and [[Siemens]], the main maker of the German [[Intercity-Express|ICE]], while CHSRC's bid was based on Japanese [[Shinkansen]] technology supplied by Taiwan Shinkansen Consortium (TSC), a joint venture of Japanese companies.<ref name="TJ_prefbid">{{cite web |url=http://taiwanjournal.nat.gov.tw/site/tj/ct.asp?xItem=15711&CtNode=122 |title=1997—THE YEAR THAT WAS—1997 |date=3 October 1997 |publisher=[[Taiwan Journal]] |access-date=9 October 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref> THSRC, which submitted the lower bid and promised to build the line with zero net cost from the government, was chosen as the preferred bidder in September 1997.<ref name="TJ_prefbid"/> The group was renamed and formally established as the Taiwan High Speed Rail ''Corporation'' (THSRC) in May 1998.<ref name="THSRC_abstock">{{cite web |url=https://www.thsrc.com.tw/en/about/ab_stock.asp |title=Stock Information |publisher=THSRC |access-date=6 October 2010 |archive-date=8 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508071716/https://www.thsrc.com.tw/en/about/ab_stock.asp |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Yu|first=Peter Kien-hong|title=Near-bankruptcy of the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation: What Went Wrong?|url=http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijbm/article/viewFile/6370/6325|work=International Journal of Business and Management|publisher=Canadian Center of Science and Education|access-date=10 March 2014|author2=Jokull Johannesson|date=December 2010|archive-date=13 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313043255/http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijbm/article/viewFile/6370/6325|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Chang|first=Violet|title=Genesis of the HSR|url=http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=432&CtNode=124|publisher=Taiwan Today|access-date=10 March 2014|date=1 October 1998|archive-date=11 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311015614/http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=432&CtNode=124|url-status=live}}</ref> THSRC and the government signed the BOT agreement on 23 July 1998.<ref>{{cite news |date=September 1998 |title=Taiwan HSR deal signed |magazine=Railway Gazette International |location=Sutton, Surrey, UK |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/taiwan-hsr-deal-signed.html |access-date=9 October 2010 |archive-date=15 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615164017/http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/taiwan-hsr-deal-signed.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

However, controversy arose during rolling-stock selection. In May 1999, as THSRC faced difficulties in raising capital, the government of Japan promised [[soft loan]]s if THSRC switched to TSC.<ref name="Shinkansen Hope">{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Rays+of+hope+for+Shinkansen+bullet+train+in+Taiwan%3f-a054962246|title=Rays of hope for Shinkansen bullet train in Taiwan?|publisher=[[The Free Library]]|work=[[Kyodo News International]]|date=3 June 1999|access-date=11 December 2015|archive-date=4 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804103202/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Rays+of+hope+for+Shinkansen+bullet+train+in+Taiwan%3f-a054962246|url-status=live}}</ref> Although Eurotrain promised to match TSC's financial proposal, the [[Eschede train disaster]] in combination with TSC offering the newer [[700 Series Shinkansen]], convinced THSRC to reopen its core system bid, ultimately resulting in TSC selected as the preferred rolling-stock supplier in December 1999. Although Eurotrain eventually conceded in the bid, in February 2001 it filed for a US$800 million damage claim against THSRC at the [[International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes|Singapore International Arbitration Centre]]. After a lengthy arbitration process, the court ruled in March 2004 that THSRC should pay a compensation for the US$32.4 million Eurotrain spent on development and US$35.7 million for unjust enrichment.<ref name="AG_SingaporeRulesEurotrain">{{cite web |url=http://www.analysisgroup.com/cases.aspx?id=212 |title=Eurotrain Consortium v. Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation |publisher=[[Analysis Group]] |access-date=29 September 2010 |archive-date=7 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707140227/http://www.analysisgroup.com/cases.aspx?id=212 |url-status=dead }}</ref> THSRC agreed to pay US$65 million (US$89 million with interest) to Eurotrain in November 2004.<ref name="TT_TpayEu">{{cite web |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2004/11/27/2003212715 |title=Taiwan High Speed Rail to compensate railway consortium |date=27 November 2004 |publisher=[[Taipei Times]] |access-date=28 January 2009 |archive-date=11 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511015951/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2004/11/27/2003212715 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Construction ===
Construction of the line by THSRC officially started in March 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Su |first=Joy |date=2004-05-05 |title=High-speed rail on track |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/05/05/2003154179 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Taipei Times |archive-date=18 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318113508/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/05/05/2003154179 |url-status=live }}</ref> Tunnels and other major civil engineering works were completed by 2004,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ho |first=Jessie |date=2005-09-07 |title=THSRC says high-speed rail runs late |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2005/09/07/2003270724 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Taipei Times |archive-date=18 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318113513/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2005/09/07/2003270724 |url-status=live }}</ref> along with the first delivery of the 700T trains.<ref name="Ho 2004">{{Cite web |last=Ho |first=Jessie |date=2004-05-26 |title=Bullet trains arrive in Kaohsiung |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/05/26/2003156967 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Taipei Times |archive-date=18 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318113459/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/05/26/2003156967 |url-status=live }}</ref> Testing and commissioning of the line then took place in 2005 and 2006,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-08-19 |title=High-speed rail set to begin speed tests next week |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2005/08/19/2003268360 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Taipei Times |archive-date=18 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318113507/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2005/08/19/2003268360 |url-status=live }}</ref> with a maximum testing speed of {{Convert|315|km/h|mph}} achieved in October 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ho |first=Jessie |date=2005-11-07 |title=Premier backs bullet train project during test ride |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/11/07/2003279087 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Taipei Times |quote=The Taiwan High-Speed Rail Corp (THSRC), builder of the high-speed rail system, reached its target of running the bullet train at a top speed of 315kph on Oct. 30. |archive-date=7 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007160456/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/11/07/2003279087 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Opening===
The railway was opened in 2007,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bradsher |first=Keith |date=2007-01-04 |title=Taiwan's Bullet Trains Can't Outrun Controversy |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/04/world/asia/04taipei.html |access-date=2023-03-18 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=21 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121200612/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/04/world/asia/04taipei.html |url-status=live }}</ref> with limited commercial services between [[Banqiao station|Banqiao]] and [[Zuoying HSR station|Zuoying]] stations from 5 January,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1 February 2007 |title=First passengers ride Taiwan high speed line |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/first-passengers-ride-taiwan-high-speed-line/31806.article |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Railway Gazette International |language=en |archive-date=4 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204000934/https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/first-passengers-ride-taiwan-high-speed-line/31806.article |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Ho |first1=Jessie |last2=Lin |first2=Jackie |date=2007-01-06 |title=High speed rail commences operations |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/01/06/2003343562 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Taipei Times |archive-date=20 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820182610/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/01/06/2003343562 |url-status=live }}</ref> with full service from [[Taipei Main Station|Taipei Station]] to Kaohsiung from May 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Chris |date=29 November 2007 |title=Taiwan's high speed line takes off |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/in-depth/taiwans-high-speed-line-takes-off/32547.article |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Railway Gazette International |language=en |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207192744/https://www.railwaygazette.com/in-depth/taiwans-high-speed-line-takes-off/32547.article |url-status=live }}</ref>

Three additional stations located along the line – [[Miaoli HSR station|Miaoli]], [[Changhua HSR station|Changhua]] and [[Yunlin HSR station|Yunlin]] – opened in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=[[Railway Bureau (Taiwan)|Railway Bureau]] |first=MOTC |date=2019-09-11 |title=Railway Construction- HSR Planning- Taiwan High Speed Rail(HSR) Project |url=https://www.rb.gov.tw/en/showpage.php?lmenuid=24&smenuid=74 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026222729/https://www.rb.gov.tw/en/showpage.php?lmenuid=24&smenuid=74 |archive-date=26 October 2020 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=[[Railway Bureau (Taiwan)|Railway Bureau]], MOTC}}</ref>

=== Future plans ===
==== Southern extension ====
On 10 September 2019, the [[Executive Yuan]] announced that the railway would be expanded to [[Pingtung County|Pingtung]]. Out of four proposed route options, it was confirmed on 27 September that the expansion would bypass central Kaohsiung, branching from Zuoying east towards western [[Pingtung City]], near {{stl|Taiwan Railways|Liukuaicuo}}, with an estimated cost of NT$55.4 billion. Although lowest in cost, the option was met with criticism regarding its economic benefits.<ref>{{cite web |title=Taiwan's Pingtung high-speed rail line ... |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3785801 |website=Taiwan News |date=27 September 2019 |access-date=27 September 2019 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807192042/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3785801 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3787316|title=MOTC criticized by Taiwan public over THSR extension plan|last=DeAeth|first=Duncan|date=30 September 2019|website=Taiwan News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001025111/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3787316|archive-date=1 October 2019|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref>

The extension to Pingtung was approved by [[Su Tseng-chang|Premier Su Tseng-chang]] in January 2023, with opening of the extension planned for 2029.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strong |first=Matthew |date=2023-01-04 |title=Taiwan approves route for high-speed rail extension from Kaohsiung to Pingtung |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4770424 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Taiwan News |archive-date=18 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318113501/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4770424 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cuenca |first=Oliver |date=2021-01-13 |title=Tendering for Taiwan high-speed extension to begin in April |url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/tendering-for-taiwan-high-speed-extension-to-begin-in-april/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=International Railway Journal |language=en-GB |quote=the line currently scheduled to open in 2029. |archive-date=26 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093936/https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/tendering-for-taiwan-high-speed-extension-to-begin-in-april/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 28 December 2024, Executive Yuan announced that the extension route would be altered to pass through the city centre with a stop at [[Kaohsiung Main Station]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Altered HSR extension plan to require new environmental assessment - Focus Taiwan |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202412280012 |website=Focus Taiwan - CNA English News |access-date=29 December 2024 |date=28 December 2024}}</ref>

==== Northern extension ====
The line was extended {{Cvt|9.2|km}} from Taipei to [[Nangang station|Nangang]], opening in July 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1 July 2016 |title=High speed services arrive at Nangang station |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/high-speed/high-speed-services-arrive-at-nangang-station/42753.article |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Railway Gazette International |language=en |archive-date=26 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426094006/https://www.railwaygazette.com/high-speed/high-speed-services-arrive-at-nangang-station/42753.article |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 25 October 2019, the [[Railway Bureau (Taiwan)|Railway Bureau]] published an assessment report to extend the line further from Taipei to [[Yilan City|Yilan]], cutting travel time to 13 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 October 2019 |title=Taiwan High Speed Rail extension to Yilan cou... |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3801718 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030165726/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3801718 |archive-date=30 October 2020 |access-date=24 October 2019 |website=Taiwan News}}</ref> The {{Cvt|56.4|km}} extension was approved in October 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 October 2020 |title=Taipei-Yilan high-speed line finalized – Taipei Times |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/10/15/2003745180 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221013933/https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/10/15/2003745180 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |access-date=5 April 2021 |website=taipeitimes.com}}</ref> and is planned to open by 2030.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cuenca |first=Oliver |date=2021-01-13 |title=Tendering for Taiwan high-speed extension to begin in April |url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/tendering-for-taiwan-high-speed-extension-to-begin-in-april/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=International Railway Journal |language=en-GB |quote=a 56.4km northern extension of the high-speed line between Taipei’s Nangang station and the northeastern coastal city of Yilan in October 2020. The line will include 11.4km of tunnels, and is expected to open to passengers by 2030. |archive-date=26 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093936/https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/tendering-for-taiwan-high-speed-extension-to-begin-in-april/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Rolling stock==
===THSR 700T===
{{main|THSR 700T}}
[[File:THSR 700T Front view.jpg|thumb|left|Nose profile of the 700T train]]
Taiwan High Speed Rail started operations with 30 [[THSR 700T]] trainsets supplied by a consortium led by [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries]].<ref name="Ho 2004" /><ref name="khi-700T">{{cite journal |title=Take a Ride on the Taiwan High Speed Rail |journal=Scope |publisher=Kawasaki Heavy Industries |date=January 2007 |url=http://www.khi.co.jp/scope/pdf_e/scope72.pdf |access-date=28 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229135028/http://www.khi.co.jp/scope/pdf_e/scope72.pdf |archive-date=29 December 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In response to increasing ridership and new stations that would begin operation in 2015, THSRC signed a contract for four new 700T trainsets with the Kawasaki consortium in May 2012 in Tokyo.<ref name="TTextratrains">{{cite news |date=22 November 2008 |title=THSRC to increase runs, buy more new cars: Ou Chin-der |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/11/22/2003429230 |access-date=17 January 2009 |archive-date=20 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820181231/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/11/22/2003429230 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=世昌 |first=陳 |date=25 May 2012 |title=THSRC Chairman Ou Chin-der signed a new contract with Kawasaki for four new trainsets. 歐晉德與川崎重工簽約購高鐵四車組(in Chinese) |newspaper=Union Daily, 聯合新聞網 |url=http://udn.com/NEWS/BREAKINGNEWS/BREAKINGNEWS6/7115800.shtml |access-date=25 May 2012 |archive-date=28 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528130009/http://udn.com/NEWS/BREAKINGNEWS/BREAKINGNEWS6/7115800.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> The four additional trainsets were delivered to Taiwan by 12 August 2015.<ref>{{cite press release  |date=23 December 2012 |title= The first THSR new trainset on board at Dec.23台灣高鐵新購列車 第一組23日抵台(in Chinese)  | newspaper=THSRC website |url= https://www.thsrc.com.tw/tc/about/ab_news_detail.asp?type=1&PKey={0BC4160B-003A-4124-90D5-38E62E3F9496}  |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thsrc.com.tw/tw/News/Detail/9241fa5e-70f0-4d6c-bbda-97b91572398a/1|title=台灣高鐵第34組列車今（12）日運抵台灣 高安全、高運能、高準點 提升旅運服務|date=12 August 2015|publisher=Taiwan High Speed Rail|access-date=14 December 2015|archive-date=20 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120062952/https://www.thsrc.com.tw/tw/News/Detail/9241fa5e-70f0-4d6c-bbda-97b91572398a/1|url-status=live}}</ref>

The THSR 700T trainset is based on the [[700 Series Shinkansen]] trainset used by [[Central Japan Railway Company|JR Central]] and [[West Japan Railway Company|JR West]] in Japan.<ref name="UIC-700T" /> This marked the first time Shinkansen technology was exported to a foreign country,<ref name="THSRC_abcomp">{{cite web |url=https://www.thsrc.com.tw/en/about/ab_comp.asp |title=Company Overview |publisher=THSRC |access-date=6 October 2010 |archive-date=24 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091124084341/https://www.thsrc.com.tw/en/about/ab_comp.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> and it involved "rolling stock derived from a JR Central design running on both the European and Japanese track systems."<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tamaki |first=Taku |date=2023-05-29 |title=Railways as Japanese identity: Riding between confidence and inexperience |journal=Contemporary Japan |volume=37 |language=en |pages=68–87 |doi=10.1080/18692729.2023.2218015 |issn=1869-2729|doi-access=free }}</ref> Customization was focused on adapting to Taiwan's climate and geography, and the nose shape was optimized for tunnels wider than those in Japan.<ref name="khi-700T" /><ref name="UIC-700T">{{cite web |last=Ishizuka |first=Masashi |url=http://www.uic.org/apps/presentation/ishizuka.pdf |title=Shinkansen Technology Exportation |date=18 March 2008 |work=6th World Congress On high Speed Rail |publisher=[[International Union of Railways|UIC]] |access-date=28 November 2010 |archive-date=7 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007123214/http://www.uic.org/apps/presentation/ishizuka.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="rt-thsr" />

The maximum service speed of the trains was raised from the 700 Series Shinkansen's {{convert|285|to|300|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="rt-thsr" /> The 12 cars of a 700T train are grouped in three traction units with three power cars and one trailer each,<ref name="UIC-700T" /> providing {{Cvt|10.26|MW}} of power;<ref name="thsrc-700T" /> both end cars are trailers to avoid slip on powered [[bogie]]s.<ref name="UIC-700T" /> The train is {{convert|304|m|ftin||abbr=on}} long and has a mass of {{convert|503|t|ST|0|abbr=on|lk=on}} when empty.<ref name="thsrc-700T">{{cite web |url=http://www.700t.com.tw/700t_profile.html |title=700T Profile 高鐵列車 |publisher=THSRC, WingMax International |access-date=28 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505132620/http://www.700t.com.tw/700t_profile.html |archive-date=5 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The trains have a passenger capacity of 989 seats in two classes: 66 seats in 2+2 configuration in the single Business Car and 923 seats in 2+3 configuration in the eleven Standard Cars.<ref name="khi-700T" /> The per capita energy consumption of a fully loaded 700T train is 16% of that of private cars and half that of buses; [[carbon dioxide]] emissions are 11% of private cars and a quarter that of buses.<ref name="JRTR" />

=== N700ST ===
{{See also|N700S Series Shinkansen}}
In the late 2010s, THSRC began work to purchase additional high speed trains, in light of growing demand.<ref name="Morgan 2018">{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Scott |date=2018-06-18 |title=HSR to add 12 new trains to fleet at cost of $NT30 billion |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3460046 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Taiwan News |archive-date=18 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318113500/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3460046 |url-status=live }}</ref> Twelve trains were planned to order at a cost of around NT$30 billion,<ref name="Morgan 2018" /> yet the limited number of Japanese companies that build Shinkansen rolling stock took several years for THSRC to agree a deal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ryugen |first=Hideaki |date=16 March 2023 |title=Taiwan to buy bullet trains from Hitachi-Toshiba duo in $930m deal |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Taiwan-to-buy-bullet-trains-from-Hitachi-Toshiba-duo-in-930m-deal |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Nikkei Asia |language=en-GB |archive-date=18 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318113507/https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Taiwan-to-buy-bullet-trains-from-Hitachi-Toshiba-duo-in-930m-deal |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Rogers 2023">{{Cite web |date=2023-03-17 |title=Taiwan concludes $1bn Shinkansen deal after four years of haggling |author-first1=David|author-last1=Rogers|url=https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/taiwan-concludes-1bn-shinkansen-deal-after-four-years-of-haggling/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Global Construction Review |language=en-GB |archive-date=18 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318113502/https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/taiwan-concludes-1bn-shinkansen-deal-after-four-years-of-haggling/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022, it was reported that THSRC was speaking to European train manufacturers instead, as the price offered by Japanese companies was "unreasonable".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strong |first=Matthew |date=2022-03-05 |title=Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. turns away from Japanese train suppliers |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4462959 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Taiwan News |archive-date=18 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318113502/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4462959 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2023, it was announced that a joint bid by [[Hitachi]] and [[Toshiba]] had been awarded the contract. Twelve trains were ordered at a cost of around NT$28 billion, which would be built based on the [[N700S Series Shinkansen|N700S Series]], the latest generation of Shinkansen train at the time of order.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Jono |date=2023-03-18 |title=Taiwan sticks with Japanese high-speed trains, confirms NT$28 billion purchase |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4839644 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Taiwan News |archive-date=22 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422230156/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4839644 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Rogers 2023" /> The contract was officially signed in May,<ref>{{cite news|script-title=zh:高鐵新世代列車敲定！今與日立東芝聯盟簽約 2027年投入營運 |trans-title=New generation of [Taiwan] HSR trainset finalised! Contract signed today with Hitachi-Toshiba Supreme Consortium with revenue service to start in 2027 |url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/4305973|date=2023-05-18|accessdate=2025-07-10|last=陳心瑜|location=Taipei|work=[[Liberty Times]]|language=zh-tw}}</ref> with a supplementary agreement concluded in March 2025. The first set of the new trains was expected to arrive at Taiwan in the second half of 2026, and would enter revenue service in the second half of 2027.<ref>{{cite news|script-title=zh:台灣高鐵與HTSC 增補協議簽約 |trans-title=Supplementary agreement signed between THSRC and HTSC |url=https://www.ctee.com.tw/news/20250318700177-439901|date=2025-03-18|accessdate=2025-07-10|last=陳昱光|work=[[Commercial Times]]|language=zh-tw}}</ref>

On 20 August 2025, the THSRC announced that the new trains are officially known as '''N700ST''' series. The THSRC further clarified that the first set of the new trains was expected to arrive at Taiwan in August 2026, where tests would take place thereafter.<ref>{{Cite press|script-title=zh:「全新世代 為你啟動」 台灣高鐵新世代列車正式命名為N700ST 塗裝延續700T設計 以白底搭配黑、橘線條 |trans-title="A new generation begins for you." Taiwan High Speed Rail's new generation train is officially named N700ST. The livery inherits the 700T design with a white background and black and orange stripes. |url=https://www.thsrc.com.tw/ArticleContent/e1e25e6a-4139-44d4-ac30-3f9724f08310|date=2025-08-20|access-date=2025-08-20|work=[[Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250820140609/https://www.thsrc.com.tw/ArticleContent/e1e25e6a-4139-44d4-ac30-3f9724f08310|archive-date=2025-08-20|url-status=live|language=zh-tw}}</ref>

=== Engineering trains ===
[[File:DD16 20 THSRMWS 1.jpg|thumb|The DD16 locomotive as used by THSRC]]
[[File:TSHR Structure Gauge Test Car 02.jpg|thumb|The former 0 series end car used for clearance checking]]
THSRC uses overhead line inspection trains from [[Windhoff]], [[Harsco]] [[railgrinder]]s, [[Plasser & Theurer]] [[track tamper]]s, and several ex-[[Japan Railways|JR]] rolling stock to maintain its line.<ref>{{cite book |last1=蘇 |first1=昭旭 |title=台灣鐵路火車百科：台鐵·高鐵·捷運 第三版|year=2014|location=Taiwan |publisher=人人出版|isbn=9789865903404}}</ref> Among the latter include the [[JNR Class DD14]] and [[JNR Class DD16]] diesel-hydraulic locomotives, which were originally used for snowploughing by JR. The two ex-JR locomotives with THSRC are equipped with Shinkansen-style rotary couplers and standard-gauge bogies instead of the original {{Track gauge|1067 mm}} gauge bogies and knuckle couplers and are used for shunting the 700T trainsets within the depot. THSRC also uses a former [[0 Series Shinkansen]] end car as a [[clearance car|structure gauge test car]].

== Operation ==
As the first high speed railway system in Taiwan, THSRC started operation in 2007 with many foreign employees, including French and German train drivers and operation controllers in the Operation Control Center (OCC).<ref>{{cite news |last=Jackie |first=Lin |date=26 January 2007 |title=High speed rail commences operations |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/01/06/2003343562 |access-date=28 September 2010 |archive-date=20 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820182610/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/01/06/2003343562 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the same time, THSRC also started to train local drivers and controllers. Since May 2008, all controllers working in the OCC have been Taiwanese, and since October 2008, all train drivers have been Taiwanese.<ref>{{cite news |last=鴻儒 |first=曾 |date=6 June 2012 |title=THSRC agreed pay US$65 million to Euortrain 高鐵特許年限 可能延長 (in Chinese), in the last paragraphs of this article writer mention: THSRC announced all the train drivers and controllers is finish the localization, and training to the first female chief controaller(高鐵宣佈，駕駛、行控中心已全由本土人力接手，還出現全球首位女性主任控制員；) |newspaper=The Liberty Times, 自由時報 |url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2012/new/jun/6/today-life12.htm |access-date=6 June 2012 |archive-date=6 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606082025/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2012/new/jun/6/today-life12.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The OCC's main responsibility is to maintain safe train operations. THSRC has 132 controllers (July 2012), of which about one quarter are female, working 24 hours per day and 365 days per year in the OCC. Requirements for becoming a Chief Controller ({{lang|zh-TW|主任控制員}}) include experience in all nine OCC positions, 300-hours of on-the-job training and acquiring qualification.<ref name="THSRC_OCC">{{cite news |last=瑄愍 |first=朱 |date=13 June 2012 |title=Special Report of THSR OCC 高鐵行控中心分秒不打烊(in Chinese) |newspaper=TSSNEWS(台灣新生報) |url=http://61.222.185.194/ |access-date=13 June 2012 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224052530/http://61.222.185.194/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

As of July 2012, THSRC has 144 drivers, of which almost 10% are female. All driver candidates must spend 8 months completing 1,326 hours of professional training and pass the National Certification before they can drive the train. In addition, after becoming a certified high-speed train driver, they undergo further on-the-job training at least three times each year in order to guarantee they can drive the train safely.<ref name="THSRC_OCC" />

===Natural disasters===
Taiwan frequently faces multiple types of natural disasters, including [[typhoon]]s, [[earthquake]]s, heavy rainfall, [[flood]]s, and [[landslide]]s. For this reason, a primary focus of THSRC's infrastructure design was how to respond to natural disasters such as earthquakes<ref name="NCDR">{{cite web |url=http://ncdr.nat.gov.tw/eew/pdf/15_Taiwan%20High%20Speed%20Rail%20earthquake%20warning%20system.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110135525/http://ncdr.nat.gov.tw/eew/pdf/15_Taiwan%20High%20Speed%20Rail%20earthquake%20warning%20system.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 November 2011 |title=Taiwan High Speed Rail Earthquake Warning System |date=4 September 2007 |work=The Taiwan-Japan Workshop on the Earthquake Early Warning System (abstract) |publisher=NCDR |access-date=4 October 2010 }}</ref> and how to ensure safety for all passengers and trains in any emergency situation.<ref name="THSRC_DWS">{{cite news |last=website |first=THSRC |title=乘車指南>安全須知>鐵路安全(in Chinese) |url=https://www.thsrc.com.tw/tc/travel/travel_safe_railroad.asp |access-date=10 April 2013 |archive-date=9 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809221239/https://www.thsrc.com.tw/tc/travel/travel_safe_railroad.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>

THSRC has established a system to respond to natural disasters and unexpected intrusion onto the right-of-way, called DWS (Disaster Warning Systems).<ref name="THSRC_DWS" /> This system consists of a network of sensors installed along the rail route to detect unexpected situations such as earthquakes, strong winds, heavy rainfall, floods, landslides, and intrusions. In case of an unexpected situation, the DWS will send signals to the OCC (Operation Control Center) immediately; it will also activate contingency measures to ensure the safety of the passengers and trains, including decelerating or stopping trains in the affected area.<ref name="NCDR" />

The DWS has functioned successfully since its initial operation in 2007. The most powerful earthquake that THSRC has experienced measured 6.4 on the Richter Scale with an epicenter {{Cvt|17|km}} from Jiaxian, Kaohsiung that shook southern Taiwan on 4 March 2010 (甲仙地震). One operating train was slightly derailed in [[Sinshih District, Tainan|Sinshih, Tainan]], and six trains were stopped on the track. In spite of the temporary suspension of operations, there was no damage or casualties. All 2,500 affected passengers were evacuated in two hours without injury. Service resumed the next day.<ref name="THSRC_IRJ"/> Such a record was well noted, and provided valuable experience in operational safety to the global railway industry.<ref name="THSRC_IRJ"/>

In April 2010, it was reported that [[subsidence]] had been observed during construction on a {{convert|6|km|mi|abbr=on}} viaduct section in [[Yunlin County]].<ref>{{cite news |date=2 November 2005 |title=High-speed rail company to release new cash plan |newspaper=Taipei Times |agency=CNA |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2005/11/02/2003278446/2 |access-date=3 October 2010 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221013934/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2005/11/02/2003278446 |url-status=live }}</ref> The subsidence continued, reaching up to {{convert|55|cm|in|abbr=on}} over seven years.<ref name="subsided-viaduct">{{cite news |date=3 April 2010 |title=Officials insist high-speed rail safe despite subsidence |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/04/03/2003469621 |access-date=26 September 2010 |archive-date=11 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611230855/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/04/03/2003469621 |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2010 subsidence had slowed, which was ascribed to the closure of some deep groundwater wells operating in the region. Although the situation was deemed safe with differential settlement between adjacent piers along the viaduct at only a sixth of the permissible level, the BOHSR urged the closure of more wells.<ref name="subsided-viaduct" /><ref name="subside_map">{{cite journal|title=How to amend land subsidence treatment policies to solve coastal subsidence problems in Taiwan|author=Peter Lin Sun, Chun-Chou Yang and Tai-Wai Lin|journal=Regional Environmental Change|doi=10.1007/s10113-010-0199-0|date=23 December 2010|publisher=Springer Berlin / Heidelberg|issn=1436-3798|pages=679–691|volume=11|issue=3|s2cid=154389683}}</ref> On 25 July 2011, the government announced plans to close almost 1,000 wells in [[Changhua County|Changhua]] and [[Yunlin County|Yunlin]] counties, reducing the amount of water pumped from deep wells by {{convert|210000000|t|kg}} by 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/07/26/2003509173|title=Government to act on high-speed rail subsidence problem|publisher=Taipei Times|date=26 July 2011|access-date=25 July 2011|archive-date=8 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808013922/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/07/26/2003509173|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Service==
[[File:Taiwan High Speed Rail 0296.JPG|thumb|alt=Standard Car interior|Standard Car riders on a northbound train]]
According to THSR's July 2018 timetable,<ref name="THSRC 2018">{{cite news |title=THSRC Ticketing Service Timetable & Fear Search |date=21 May 2018 |last=THSRC |first=Website |url=http://www.thsrc.com.tw/UploadFiles/TicketFile/6abb9004-2dad-4929-b354-bca5968d5e1c.pdf |access-date=26 June 2018 |archive-date=18 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618230618/http://www.thsrc.com.tw/UploadFiles/TicketFile/6abb9004-2dad-4929-b354-bca5968d5e1c.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> there are 989 train services per week of operation, with operation times between 05:50 to 24:00 every day. Most southbound trains originate from [[Nangang station]] and most northbound trains originate from [[Zuoying HSR station|Zuoying]]; however, a few trains operate just between Nangang and [[Taichung HSR station|Taichung]] or between Taichung and Zuoying. Southbound trains are designated by odd train numbers, and northbound trains by even train numbers.<ref name="THSRC_timetable" />

Each train consists of one business car (car 6) and 11 standard cars (including reserved seats and non-reserved seats). Since July 2010, non-reserved seats are available in cars 10 through 12 (some trains have additional non-reserved seats available in other cars). Car 7 of each train is fitted with four wheelchair accessible seats and an accessible restroom. Passengers can call THSR's Customer Service Hot Line at (Taiwan) 4066-3000 or visit any THSR station ticket window to reserve these seats.<ref name="THSRC_timetable" />

By August 2012, implementation of [[4G]] [[WiMAX]] on-board trains is expected to provide smooth [[wireless broadband]] services, making THSR the first high-speed ground transportation system equipped with this service.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aECO&ID=201206050027|title=COMPUTEX: High-speed rail to offer 4G WiMAX service in August|publisher=Focus Taiwan News Channel|date=5 June 2012|access-date=10 June 2012|archive-date=17 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217072319/http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aECO&ID=201206050027|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2012, THSRC rated highly in the CommonWealth Magazine (天下雜誌) "Golden Service Award survey" (金牌服務大賞), not only far outpacing all rivals in the "long-distance land transport" category, but also taking the top spot in the overall rankings of 300 industries.<ref>{{cite news |last= Yueh-lin |first= Ma |date= 19 July 2012 |title= HSR: The New Benchmark for Travel Culture |magazine= CommonWealth Magazine, 天下雜誌 |url= http://english.cw.com.tw/article.do?action=show&id=13694 |access-date= 8 May 2013 |archive-date= 17 February 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150217045332/http://english.cw.com.tw/article.do?action=show&id=13694 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

===Local connections===
To improve local public transit connections to THSR stations, the TRA built two new [[Branch line|spur lines]] branching off from [[West Coast Line (Taiwan)|West Coast Line]].
*[[Shalun Line]] for [[Tainan HSR station|Tainan]] opened on 2 January 2011,<ref>{{cite news |date=3 January 2011 |title=Shalun Branch line cuts travel time for Tainan commuters |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/01/03/2003492563 |access-date=2 January 2011 |archive-date=28 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628212936/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/01/03/2003492563 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Liujia Line]] for [[Hsinchu HSR station|Hsinchu]] opened on 11 November 2011.<ref>{{cite news |date=3 March 2010 |title=New rails to link high speed and TRA trains |newspaper=The China Post |location=Taipei |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2010/03/03/246617/New-rails.htm |access-date=8 October 2010 |archive-date=28 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828195634/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2010/03/03/246617/New-rails.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{|class=wikitable
!colspan=2|Code!!Name!!Chinese!![[Taiwanese Hokkien|Taiwanese]]!![[Taiwanese Hakka|Hakka]]!!Connecting services and Notes!!Distance <small>(km)</small><ref>{{cite web|title=高鐵車站簡介|url=http://www.hsr.gov.tw/homepage.nsf/Div2?OpenFrameset|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103001926/http://www.hsr.gov.tw/homepage.nsf/Div2?OpenFrameset|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2007|website=高鐵局|access-date=13 February 2017|language=zh}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=TRA WebSite – tw|url=http://www.railway.gov.tw/tw/CP.aspx?sn=3611&n=6832|website=交通部臺灣鐵路管理局|access-date=13 February 2017|date=11 December 2008|archive-date=29 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175302/https://www.railway.gov.tw/tw/CP.aspx?sn=3611&n=6832|url-status=live}}</ref>!!Type<ref name="JRTR"/>!!colspan=2|Location
|-align=center
| {{mono|NAG}} || 01 ||[[Nangang station|Nangang]]||{{large|{{lang|zh-tw|南港}}}}||Lâm-káng||Nàm-kóng
|align=left|{{rint|tw|rail}} [[West Coast Line (Taiwan)|West Coast Line]] {{small|(097)}}<br />{{rint|taipei|metro}} {{rint|taipei|bl}} {{small|(BL22)}}
|align=right|−3.2||underground||[[Nangang District, Taipei|Nangang]]||rowspan=2|[[Taipei]]
|-align=center
| {{mono|TPE}} || 02 ||[[Taipei Main Station|Taipei]]||{{large|{{lang|zh-tw|台北}}}}||Tâi-pak||Thòi-pet
|align=left|{{rint|tw|rail}} [[West Coast Line (Taiwan)|West Coast Line]] {{small|(100)}}<br />{{rint|taipei|metro}} {{rint|taipei|r}} {{small|(R10)}} and {{rint|taipei|bl}} {{small|(BL12)}}<br />{{rint|Taoyuan|Metro}} {{rint|taoyuan|A}} {{small|([[Taipei Main station (Taoyuan Metro)|A1 Taipei Main]])}} ''200 m''
|align=right|6.1||underground||[[Zhongzheng District|Zhongzheng]]
|-align=center
| {{mono|BAQ}} || 03 ||[[Banqiao station|Banqiao]]||{{large|{{lang|zh-tw|板橋}}}}||Pang-kiô||Piông-khièu
|align=left|{{rint|tw|rail}} [[West Coast Line (Taiwan)|West Coast Line]] {{small|(102)}}<br />{{rint|taipei|metro}} {{rint|taipei|BL}} {{small|(BL07)}} and {{rint|newtaipei|metro}} {{rint|newtaipei|Y}}<span style="color:black">{{small|(Y16)}}</span>
|align=right|13.1||underground||[[Banqiao District|Banqiao]]||[[New Taipei City|New Taipei]]
|-align=center
| {{mono|TAY}} || 04 ||[[Taoyuan HSR station|Taoyuan]]||{{large|{{lang|zh-tw|桃園}}}}||Thô-hn̂g||Thò-yèn
|align=left| {{rint|Taoyuan|Metro}} {{rint|taoyuan|A}}  {{small|(A18 Taoyuan HSR)}}<br />[[Taoyuan International Airport|Airport]] Shuttle Bus
|align=right|42.3||underground||[[Zhongli District|Zhongli]]||[[Taoyuan, Taiwan|Taoyuan]]
|-align=center
| {{mono|HSC}} || 05 ||[[Hsinchu HSR station|Hsinchu]]||{{large|{{lang|zh-tw|新竹}}}}||Sin-tek||Sîn-tsuk
|align=left|{{rint|tw|rail}} [[Liujia Line]] {{small|([[Liujia railway station|240 Liujia]])}}
|align=right|72.2||elevated||[[Zhubei]] || [[Hsinchu County|Hsinchu]]
|-align=center
| {{mono|MIL}} || 06 ||[[Miaoli HSR station|Miaoli]]||{{large|{{lang|zh-tw|苗栗}}}}||Biâu-le̍k||Mèu-li̍t
|align=left|{{rint|tw|rail}} [[Taichung Line]] {{small|([[Fengfu railway station|136 Fengfu]])}}
|align=right|104.9||elevated||[[Houlong, Miaoli|Houlong]]||[[Miaoli County|Miaoli]]
|-align=center
| {{mono|TAC}} || 07 ||[[Taichung HSR station|Taichung]]||{{large|{{lang|zh-tw|台中}}}}||Tâi-tiong||Thòi-chûng
|align=left|{{rint|tw|rail}} [[Taichung Line]] {{small|([[Xinwuri railway station|280 Xinwuri]])}}<br />[[Taichung MRT]]: {{rint|taichung|g}} <span style="color:grey">{{small|([[HSR Taichung Station (Taichung MRT)|119 Xinwuri]])}}</span>
|align=right|165.7||elevated||[[Wuri District|Wuri]]||[[Taichung]]
|-align=center
| {{mono|CHH}} || 08 ||[[Changhua HSR station|Changhua]]||{{large|{{lang|zh-tw|彰化}}}}||Chiong-hoà||Chông-fa
|align=left|
|align=right|193.9||elevated||[[Tianzhong, Changhua|Tianzhong]]||[[Changhua County|Changhua]]
|-align=center
| {{mono|YUL}} || 09 ||[[Yunlin HSR station|Yunlin]]||{{large|{{lang|zh-tw|雲林}}}}||Hûn-lîm||Yùn-lìm
|align=left|
|align=right|218.5||elevated||[[Huwei, Yunlin|Huwei]]||[[Yunlin County|Yunlin]]
|-align=center
| {{mono|CHY}} || 10 ||[[Chiayi HSR station|Chiayi]]||{{large|{{lang|zh-tw|嘉義}}}}||Ka-gī||Kâ-ngi
|align=left|{{rint|tw|cbrt}} [[Chiayi Bus Rapid Transit|Chiayi BRT]]
|align=right|251.6||elevated||[[Taibao]]||[[Chiayi County|Chiayi]]
|-align=center
| {{mono|TAN}} || 11 ||[[Tainan HSR station|Tainan]]||{{large|{{lang|zh-tw|台南}}}}||Tâi-lâm||Thòi-nàm
|align=left|{{rint|tw|rail}} [[Shalun Line]] {{small|([[Shalun railway station|284 Shalun]])}}
|align=right|313.9||elevated||[[Gueiren District|Gueiren]]||[[Tainan]]
|-align=center
| {{mono|ZUY}} || 12 ||[[Zuoying HSR station|Zuoying]]||{{large|{{lang|zh-tw|左營}}}}||Chó-iâⁿ||Chó-yàng
|align=left|{{rint|tw|rail}} [[West Coast Line (Taiwan)|West Coast Line]] {{small|(288 Xinzuoying)}}<br />{{rint|tw|kmrt}} {{rint|kaohsiung|r}} {{small|(R16 Zuoying/THSR)}}
|align=right|345.2||ground level||[[Zuoying District|Zuoying]]||rowspan=2|[[Kaohsiung]]
|}

===Stop patterns===
With a few exceptions, the services follow the below pattern.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! style="width:1em;" class="unsortable" |Code{{efn|These codes are used for statistical purposes.}}
! style="width:8em;" class="unsortable" |Number{{efn|3-digit numbers indicate daily services, while 4-digit numbers indicate services on particular days of a week.}}
! style="width:1em;" class="unsortable" |Category
! style="width:1em;" class="unsortable" |Nangang
! style="width:1em;" class="unsortable" |Taipei
! style="width:1em;" class="unsortable" |Banqiao
! style="width:1em;" class="unsortable" |Taoyuan
! style="width:1em;" class="unsortable" |Hsinchu
! style="width:1em;" class="unsortable" |Miaoli
! style="width:1em;" class="unsortable" |Taichung
! style="width:1em;" class="unsortable" |Changhua
! style="width:1em;" class="unsortable" |Yunlin
! style="width:1em;" class="unsortable" |Chiayi
! style="width:1em;" class="unsortable" |Tainan
! style="width:1em;" class="unsortable" |Zuoying
!Service proportion
|-
|rowspan=2|D
|6xx, 16xx, 17xx
|rowspan=2|Semi-Fast Train (Frog Mode)
|●
|●
|●
|●
|●
|－
|●
|－
|－
|●
|●
|●
|rowspan=2|36.0%
|-
|696, 1712
|N/A
|●
|●
|●
|●
|－
|●
|－
|－
|●
|●
|●
|-
|F
|8xx, 18xx, 88xx
|Stopping Train
|●
|●
|●
|●
|●
|●
|●
|●
|●
|●
|●
|●
|22.7%
|-
|B
|1xx, 1103
|Fast Train (Direct to Zuoying)
|●||●||●||－||－||－||●||－||－||－||－||●
|20.5%
|-
|rowspan=4|B'
|2xx, 12xx
|rowspan=4|Fast train (Call at Tainan Mode)
|●
|●
|●
|－
|－
|－
|●
|－
|－
|－
|●
|●
|rowspan=4|8.9%
|-
|203
|N/A
|●
|●
|－
|－
|－
|●
|－
|－
|●
|●
|●
|-
|1202
|●
|●
|－
|－
|－
|－
|●
|－
|－
|●
|●
|●
|-
|1293
|●
|●
|●
|－
|－
|－
|●
|－
|－
|●
|●
|●
|-
| rowspan="4" |E
|5xx, 15xx, 85xx
| rowspan="4" |Stopping Train (Interval-Local Mode, Terminal is Taichung){{efn|This Train Services is Mainly Extra-Service between at Nangang or Taipei to Taichung Service Interval(Service 3541, 3545 and 3553 is Applicable on Friday, is only between at Taipei to Taichung Service Interval), section between at Nangang to Taichung Services has 9-Car Non-Reserved Cars (Car 1-4&8-12) , the between at Taichung to Zuoying Service Interval is only single-round trip (Service 583 and 598), because overlapping the Taoyuan Airport Limited Express Service (Service 295, 300, 333 and 13xx) with between at Taichung to Zuoying Interval is All-Stop Pattern.}}
|●||●||●||●||●||●||rowspan="4" |●|| rowspan="2" colspan="5" |&nbsp;N/A
|rowspan="2"|8.59%
|-
|3541, 3545, 3553
|N/A||●||●||●||●||●
|-
|1575
|●||●||－||●||●||－
|-
|583, 598, 158x, 159x
| colspan="6" |&nbsp;N/A||●
|●
|●
|●
|●
|0.01%
|-
|rowspan=2|C
|295
|rowspan=2|[[Taoyuan International Airport|Taoyuan Airport]] Limited Express (Call at Taoyuan, but skip Banqiao){{efn|This Train Services is Mainly Extra-Service between at Taichung to Zuoying Service Interval is All-Stop Pattern (Service 295 is only Stop at Chiayi, Tainan and Zuoying Stations on between at Taichung to Zuoying Service Interval), the between at Nangang to Taichung Service Interval is only Stop at Nangang, Taipei, Taoyuan and Taichung Stations, section Taoyuan Airport Limited Express Services has 5-Car Non-Reserved Cars (Car 8-12).}}
|●
|●
|－
|●
|－
|－
|●
|－
|－
|●
|●
|●
|rowspan=2|3.2%
|-
|3xx, 13xx, 83xx
|●
|●
|－
|●
|－
|－
|●
|●
|●
|●
|●
|●
|-
|A
|1985
|Super-Fast Train (skip Taichung)
|●||●||●||－||－||－||－||－||－||－||●||●
|0.001%
|-
| colspan="16" |as of February 2026; ●: Trains stop at station; －: Trains skip station
|}

===Ticket fare and discount===
[[File:2011 THSRC Early Brid Event-2.jpg|thumb|THSRC Early Bird Ticket Promotion Event, 2011]]
[[File:Taipei Station HSR ticket selling 20240117.jpg|thumb|Ticket vending machine in [[Taipei Main Station]]]]
As of January 2018, a one-way Taipei–Zuoying trip, a THSR standard car adult ticket is NT$1490, and a business car ticket fare is NT$1950.<ref name="THSRC_timetable" /> The cost of a non-reserved seat is approximately 3% less than the regular price. Business and standard car reserved ticket reservations are available 28 days prior to the date of departure (including the departure day).<ref name="THSRC_timetable" />

Senior citizens (Taiwan citizens above 65 years of age), registered disabled persons plus one accompanying passenger (Taiwan citizens only), and children (passengers under 12 years of age) are eligible for concession (half price) tickets, whereas University students enrolled at Taiwanese Universities, including international/exchange students, are eligible for discounts ranging from 5% to 50% off the regular/early bird price on certain trains (typically either 12% or 25% off), subject to student ID checks.<ref name="THSRC_timetable">{{cite web |url=http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/en/ticket/tic_guide.asp |title=Passenger Guide |publisher=THSRC |access-date=22 December 2013 |archive-date=14 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214051010/http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/en/ticket/tic_guide.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="THSRC College Student Discount">{{cite web |url=https://en.thsrc.com.tw/ArticleContent/ed42f37a-76a3-440c-933c-dd0ff317d7d2 |title=College Student Discount |publisher=THSRC |access-date=23 June 2025 }}</ref>

A group discount is offered for groups of 11 or more. A group discount cannot be used in combination with other discount offers and does not include non-reserved seats. Passengers eligible for multiple discounts can only choose one discount offer.<ref name="THSRC_timetable" /><ref name="outlook-freqdia">{{cite web |url=http://140.113.119.114/seminar/97%E4%B8%8B/THSRC-0518.pdf |script-title=zh:高鐵對台灣經濟發展的影響 |language=zh |year=2009 |publisher=THSRC |access-date=8 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703045702/http://140.113.119.114/seminar/97%E4%B8%8B/THSRC-0518.pdf |archive-date=3 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thsrc.com.tw/tc/about/ab_intro_service.asp |script-title=zh:優質服務 |language=zh |publisher=THSRC |access-date=6 October 2010 |archive-date=25 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425225438/https://www.thsrc.com.tw/tc/about/ab_intro_service.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since 1 July 2010, a [[smart card]] system has provided frequent travelers with multi-ride (eight trips) or periodic tickets. THSR's contact-less smart cards allow the cardholder to travel between specific stations within a given time period for a certain number of rides. The card is sold in either registered (name-bearing) or non-registered form. Only adult tickets are available in this format, and cannot be used for rides between Banqiao and Taipei.

After purchasing or adding value to a multi-ride card, the card balance is valid for 45 days counted from the day of first use. The ticket is good for 8 rides. The multi-ride card provides a discount of about 21% off the full fare of a reserved Standard Seat. Non-registered and registered multi-ride tickets can be purchased at the ticket windows of all THSRC stations. Upon first purchase of a multi-ride ticket, a card deposit fee of NT$100 is required (refundable if the card is returned). The registered multi-ride ticket is limited to personal use by the registered cardholder.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/en/ticket/tic_multiride_guide.asp |title= Taiwan High Speed Rail Ticketing Information |date= 22 December 2013 |access-date= 22 December 2013 |archive-date= 16 December 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131216144657/http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/en/ticket/tic_multiride_guide.asp |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |publisher=THSRC |date=1 June 2010 |url=https://www.thsrc.com.tw/tc/about/ab_news_detail.asp?type=1&PKey={94ABE845-A2F6-4C18-BCDC-52C4E2B2E743} |title=高鐵優惠大放送 回數票85折 定期票48折 增班改點拚營收 自由座車廂增加天天服務 |language=zh |access-date=30 June 2010}}</ref>
Since November 2012, an Early Bird discount of 35% has been offered for a limited number of tickets sold no later than 8 days before the departure date. If the 35% off tickets sell out before the deadline, tickets with a discount of 20% off are offered. If these tickets sell out before the deadline, tickets with a discount of 10% off are offered. If all early bird tickets are sold out, then full fare tickets are offered.<ref name="early_bird">{{cite web |url=https://www.thsrc.com.tw/tc/about/ab_news_detail.asp?type=1&PKey={5B2A6196-C0D3-4301-84C4-06BD517CF5F9} |title=11月起高鐵早鳥優惠新增8折優惠 8天前預購有機會享65折 |language=zh |publisher=THSRC |access-date=3 October 2012}}</ref>

===Train frequency===
[[File:THSRC frequency.png|thumb|alt=THSRC train frequencies|Daily, weekly frequency of normal scheduled THSRC train services. Extra trains during holidays and cancellations due to extraordinary events not shown.]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Train frequencies<br /><small>in timetable valid from 8 October 2018<ref name="THSRC 2018"/></small><ref>{{Cite web |title=THSR timetable |url=https://www.rb.gov.tw/public/files/artsinfo/1550048803-0.csv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215215934/https://www.rb.gov.tw/public/files/artsinfo/1550048803-0.csv |archive-date=15 February 2019 |access-date=15 February 2019 |website=[[Railway Bureau (Taiwan)|Railway Bureau]]}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan="2" | Direction !! colspan="7" | Trains per day !! rowspan="2" | Trains per week
|-
! Mon !! Tue !! Wed !! Thu !! Fri !! Sat !! Sun
|- align="right"
! Southbound
|63
| colspan="3" align="center" |64
|82
|75
|76
|488
|- align="right"
! Northbound
|69
| colspan="3" align="center" |68
|80
|70
|86
|509
|- align="right"
! Both directions
| colspan="4" align="center" |132
|162
|145
|162
|997
|}

THSRC operates additional train services during national holidays.<ref name="2008apr6record">{{cite news |date=8 April 2008 |title=HSR passenger volume hits record new high |newspaper=The China Post |location=Taipei |agency=CNA |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national%20news/2008/04/08/150893/HSR-passenger.htm |access-date=24 April 2008 |archive-date=18 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618202244/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national%20news/2008/04/08/150893/HSR-passenger.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 29 June 2011, a proposal by THSRC to increase the maximum number of train services to 210 per day (compared to the existing 175 per day) passed an environmental impact assessment, increasing the number of possible services on "high-load days".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/06/30/2003507054|title=Rail passes assessment to add more trips|publisher=Taipei Times|author=Lee I-chia|date=30 June 2011|access-date=18 July 2011|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402132137/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/06/30/2003507054|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Ridership===
[[File:THSRC ridership daily.png|thumb|alt=THSRC ridership evolution|Monthly averages of daily THSRC ridership]]
Original estimates predicted a daily ridership of 180,000 after launch, growing to 400,000 by 2036.<ref name="Tah_orig-est">{{cite news |last=Cheng |first=Jessie |date=5 September 1997 |title=High-speed rail bidders confident |journal=Taiwan Journal |url=http://taiwanjournal.nat.gov.tw/site/tj/ct.asp?CtNode=122&xItem=15627 |access-date=11 October 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref> In view of a 50% drop in airline passengers due to the [[1997 Asian financial crisis]], forecasts were revised downwards.<ref name="JRTR" /> The final initial ridership estimate was 140,000 passengers per day.<ref>{{cite news |last=Li |first=Francis |date=23 July 2004 |title=High-speed rail to give birth to new towns |journal=Taiwan Journal |url=http://taiwanjournal.nat.gov.tw/site/tj/ct.asp?CtNode=122&xItem=20798 |access-date=11 October 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref> Actual initial ridership did not match these projections. In September 2007, six months after opening, THSRC carried 1.5&nbsp;million passengers monthly,<ref name="10mil" /> translating to about 50,000 passengers daily. In the second year, passenger numbers almost doubled.<ref name="THSRC2ndYear">{{cite press release |publisher=THSRC |date=10 January 2009 |url=https://www.thsrc.com.tw/tc/about/ab_news_detail.asp?type=1&PKey={FDF0410A-278D-4512-BDCD-F93CA286A768} |title=台灣高鐵通車兩年 旅運人次倍數成長 |language=zh |access-date=28 September 2010}}</ref> In the third year, average daily ridership continued to grow to 88,000 passengers per day, jumping to over 120,000 passengers per day in 2012. (updated to September 2012)<ref name="ft-2010">{{cite news |date=3 January 2011 |title=Record ridership for Taiwan High Speed Rail |work=Focus Taiwan |agency=[[Central News Agency (Republic of China)|CNA]] |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201101030022 |access-date=3 January 2010 |archive-date=27 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127100008/http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201101030022 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=1 August 2011 |title=High-speed rail ridership hits monthly record in July |work=Focus Taiwan |agency=[[Central News Agency (Republic of China)|CNA]] |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201108010039 |access-date=2 August 2011 |archive-date=15 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815022727/http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201108010039 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Seat occupancy was around 45% in the first three years, with a modest improvement achieved in 2009, and reached 53.91% in 2012. (updated to September 2012)<ref name="seatocc">{{cite press release |publisher=THSRC |date=23 June 2010 |url=https://www.thsrc.com.tw/tc/about/ab_news_detail.asp?type=1&PKey={0F9BCD12-EC2D-4A3E-A6D4-7972EE2E26C7} |title=高鐵公司今日召開99年股東常會，通過98年度營業報告書、財務報表及盈虧撥補承認案，並修訂公司章程及相關作業程序 |language=zh |access-date=26 July 2010}}</ref> Punctuality is stable above 99%.<ref name="ridership">{{cite web |url=https://www.thsrc.com.tw/tc/about/ab_operate_annual.asp |script-title=zh:營運年度概況 |publisher=THSRC |access-date=26 February 2011 |language=zh |archive-date=16 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216210229/https://www.thsrc.com.tw/tc/about/ab_operate_annual.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Annual traffic figures<ref>{{Cite web |last=thsrc |title=台灣高鐵 Taiwan High Speed Rail |url=https://corp.thsrc.com.tw/corp/9571df11-8524-4935-8a46-0d5a72e6bc7c |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=corp.thsrc.com.tw |language=zh-tw}}</ref>
! Year !! Ridership !! Seat-km !! Passenger-km !! Seat occupancy(%): !! Train-km !! Passenger Car km !! Punctuality<br />(less than 5 mins)
|- align="right"
! 2007
| 15,558,356
| 7,838,644,289
| 3,520,173,426
| 44.91
| 7,925,828
| 95,109,936
| 99.47%
|- align="right"
! 2008
| 30,581,261
| 15,089,499,008
| 6,566,119,575
| 43.51
| 15,257,330
| 183,087,960
| 99.19%
|- align="right"
! 2009
| 32,349,260
| 14,821,653,184
| 6,863,960,208
| 46.31
| 14,986,505
| 179,838,060
| 99.25%
|- align="right"
! 2010
| 36,939,596
| 15,296,119,539
| 7,491,019,590
| 48.97
| 15,466,248
| 185,594,976
| 99.21%
|- align="right"
! 2011
| 41,629,303
| 15,781,051,602
| 8,147,869,493
| 51.63
| 15,956,574
| 191,478,888
| 99.87%
|- align="right"
! 2012
| 44,525,754
| 15,829,068,364
| 8,641,573,257
| 54.59
| 16,005,125
| 192,061,500
| 99.40%
|- align="right"
! 2013
| 47,486,229
| 15,858,327,738
| 9,118,060,276
| 57.50
| 16,034,710
| 192,416,520
| 99.38%
|- align="right"
! 2014
| 48,024,758
| 16,167,495,855
| 9,235,162,292
| 57.12
| 16,347,317
| 196,167,804
| 99.61%
|- align="right"
! 2015
| 50,561,954
| 16,186,948,588
| 9,654,960,687
| 59.65
| 16,366,984
| 196,403,808
| 99.66%
|- align="right"
! 2016
| 56,586,210
| 16,512,526,628
| 10,488,339,832
| 63.52
| 16,696,185
| 200,354,220
| 99.43%
|- align="right"
! 2017
| 60,571,057
| 17,040,173,121
| 11,103,358,620
| 65.16
| 17,229,700
| 206,756,400
| 99.72%
|- align="right"
! 2018
| 63,963,199
| 17,249,709,128
| 11,558,787,218
| 67.01
| 17,441,565
| 209,298,780
| 99.43%
|- align="right"
! 2019
| 67,411,248
| 17,629,990,176
| 11,994,452,919
| 68.03
| 17,826,078
| 213,912,936
| 99.88%
|- align="right"
! 2020
| 57,238,942
| 17,407,300,140
| 9,912,062,318
| 56.94
| 17,626,356
| 211,516,272
| 99.72%
|- align="right"
! 2021
| 43,459,558
| 15,175,274,282
| 7,568,787,566
| 49.88
| 15,532,523
| 186,390,276
| 98.75%
|- align="right"
! 2022
| 54,162,008
| 17,516,589,784
| 9,338,060,508
| 53.31
| 17,928,956
| 215,147,472
| 99.47%
|- align="right"
! 2023
| 73,086,668
| 17,779,654,904
| 12,564,568,569
| 70.67
| 18,198,214
| 218,378,568
| 99.57%
|}
{{Chart|definition=Taiwan High Speed Rail entries and exists (millions).chart|data=Taiwan High Speed Rail entries and exists (millions).tab|Width=550}}
{{Chart|definition=Taiwan High Speed Rail entries and exists in 2017 (millions).chart|data=Taiwan High Speed Rail entries and exists in 2017 (millions).tab|Width=550}}

The 10-millionth passenger was carried after 265 days of operation on 26 September 2007,<ref name="10mil">{{cite news |date=27 September 2007 |title=Ten millionth passenger takes ride on bullet train |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2007/09/27/2003380666 |access-date=6 September 2008 |archive-date=12 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012234408/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2007/09/27/2003380666 |url-status=live }}</ref> while the 100-millionth passenger was carried after 1,307 days on 3 August 2010,<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=THSRC |date=4 August 2010 |url=https://www.thsrc.com.tw/tc/about/ab_news_detail.asp?type=1&PKey={69576F58-95C2-4757-BE89-F6B9EDA70457} |title=高鐵歡慶旅運破億 公布票號急尋獲獎旅客 |language=zh |access-date=22 August 2010}}</ref> and 200-millionth by December 2012.<ref name="focustw"/> On 10 October 2011, the [[National Day of the Republic of China|Double Ten Day]] holiday, THSRC transported a single-day record of 189,386 passengers. On 5 February 2011, the third day of [[Chinese New Year]]’s celebration, a new record of 190,596 passengers was achieved. The next single-day record was reached on 25 January 2012, also the third day of Chinese New Year's celebration, at 191,989 passengers. The most recent record is 212,000 passengers transported on 1 January 2013.<ref name="focustw">{{cite web|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aSOC&ID=201301020033|title=Train ridership in Taiwan hits new high during New Year holiday|work=focustaiwan.tw|access-date=6 January 2013|archive-date=11 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211004815/http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aSOC&ID=201301020033|url-status=live}}</ref>

The high-speed trains have successfully out-competed planes: by August 2008, half of the air routes between Taipei and the country's western cities had been discontinued, including all connections between cities with THSR stations except for a single daily connection between Taipei and Kaohsiung.<ref name="railvsair_TJ" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://210.69.99.7/motchypage/monthly_eng/c6100.xls |title=Table 6-10 Passenger Load Factor of Domestic Flight by Line of Aviation |work=Monthly Statistics of Transportation & Communications] |publisher=MOTC Department of Statistics |access-date=28 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110530001501/http://210.69.99.7/motchypage/monthly_eng/c6100.xls |archive-date=30 May 2011 }}</ref> Total domestic air traffic was expected to be halved from 2006 to 2008,<ref name="railvsair_TJ">{{cite news|last=Chen |first=Melody |date=4 September 2008 |title=Romance of rail jeopardizes domestic air routes |journal=[[Taiwan Journal]] |url=http://taiwanjournal.nat.gov.tw/site/tj/ct.asp?CtNode=122&xItem=45023 |access-date=11 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925003521/http://taiwanjournal.nat.gov.tw/site/tj/ct.asp?CtNode=122&xItem=45023 |archive-date=25 September 2008 }}</ref> and actually fell from 8.6 to 4.9&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://210.69.99.7/motchypage/monthly_eng/c6010.xls |title=Table 6-1 Traffic Status of National Airlines |work=Monthly Statistics of Transportation & Communications] |publisher=MOTC Department of Statistics |access-date=30 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110530001525/http://210.69.99.7/motchypage/monthly_eng/c6010.xls |archive-date=30 May 2011 }}</ref> In June 2012, officials announced the discontinuation of the last remaining commercial flight between Taipei and Kaohsiung.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201206250041|title=Last Taipei-Kaohsiung air service to be discontinued|publisher=Focus Taiwan News Channel|date=25 June 2012|access-date=26 June 2012|archive-date=30 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630112531/http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201206250041|url-status=dead}}</ref> The share for conventional rail between Taipei and Kaohsiung fell from 9.71% in 2006 to 2.5% in 2008, while high-speed rail became the most common mode of transport at 50% of all trips by 2008.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Cheng |first=Yung-Hsiang |title=High-speed rail in Taiwan: New experience and issues for future development |journal=Transport Policy |volume=17 |issue=2 |pages=51–63 |publisher=Elsevier |year=2010 |doi=10.1016/j.tranpol.2009.10.009}}</ref> The opening of THSR led to a 10% reduction of traffic on the [[National Highway No. 1 (Taiwan)|parallel expressway]] in 2007.<ref name="KaWh_07">{{cite news |date=26 September 2007 |title=Taiwan's High-speed Rail: It's Been a Rapid Learning Curve |website=China Knowledge@Wharton |publisher=[[Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania]] |url=http://www.knowledgeatwharton.com.cn/index.cfm?fa=viewfeature&articleid=1718&languageid=1 |access-date=11 October 2010 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716031053/http://www.knowledgeatwharton.com.cn/index.cfm?fa=viewfeature&articleid=1718&languageid=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Despite cheaper ticket prices, long-distance bus companies reported that passenger volumes had fallen by 20 to 30 percent by 2008.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chen |first=Melody |date=4 September 2008 |title=Fast train success deepens bus sector's woes |journal=Taiwan Journal |url=http://taiwanjournal.nat.gov.tw/site/tj/ct.asp?CtNode=122&xItem=45024 |access-date=11 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925003044/http://taiwanjournal.nat.gov.tw/site/tj/ct.asp?CtNode=122&xItem=45024 |archive-date=25 September 2008 }}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
[[File:THSR 700T to Bagua Plateau 20080207.jpg|thumb|About 70&nbsp;percent of the line is on viaducts. Track is almost entirely [[Ballastless track|ballastless]] on concrete, with components that limit noise emission.]]

Construction of the system took more than 2,000 professional engineers from 20 countries and over 20,000 foreign and domestic workers six years to complete.<ref name="CP_records">{{cite news |date=5 January 2007 |title=HSR system sets several world records |newspaper=[[The China Post]] |location=Taipei |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2007/01/05/99206/HSR-system.htm |access-date=4 October 2010 |archive-date=4 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080904215435/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2007/01/05/99206/HSR-system.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Construction work was broken into several specialized lots that were contracted separately.<ref name="thsrc-93">{{cite web |url=https://www.thsrc.com.tw/download/tc/file/02/report_93.pdf |script-title=zh:93年年報 |language=zh |year=2004 |publisher=THSRC |access-date=11 February 2011 |archive-date=23 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723195004/http://www.thsrc.com.tw/download/tc/file/02/report_93.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> One group of contracts was for civil works, covering the construction of the superstructure of open line sections.<ref name="thsrc-93" /> Stations and depots were the subject of separate groups of construction contracts.<ref name="thsrc-93" /> A fourth group of contracts was for track work.<ref name="thsrc-93" /><ref name="thsrc-2011">{{cite web|url=https://www.thsrc.com.tw/download/en/01/thsrc_f_2011.pdf|title=2011 Annual Report|year=2011|publisher=THSRC|access-date=22 April 2013|archive-date=4 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404092041/http://www.thsrc.com.tw/download/en/01/thsrc_f_2011.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Taiwan North-South High Speed Rail Project was awarded the first prize for the Outstanding Civil Engineering Project Award by the Asian Civil Engineering Coordination Council (ACECC) in Sydney in 2010.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The China Post |date=3 August 2010 |title=Taiwan High Speed Rail won engineering award |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2010/08/03/267131/Taiwans-High.htm |access-date=22 November 2012 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402092230/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2010/08/03/267131/Taiwans-High.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2011, the Public Construction Commission (公共工程委員會) organized an on-line voting campaign that garnered over 330,000 votes, to select the 100 best infrastructure projects (百大建設) in Taiwan to celebrate the centennial of the [[Republic of China|Republic]]; Taiwan High Speed Rail topped the list.<ref>{{cite web |work=KMT |date=15 February 2011 |title=HSR Tops List of Taiwan's 100 Best Infrastructure Projects |url=http://www.kmt.org.tw/english/page.aspx?type=article&mnum=112&anum=9224 |access-date=12 January 2013 |archive-date=8 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108004041/http://www.kmt.org.tw/english/page.aspx?type=article&mnum=112&anum=9224 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Track===
[[File:Taiwan-HighSpeedRail-700T-testrun-2006-0624.jpg|thumb|left|alt=THSR train on test run|THSR train on a test run in June 2006. About 61&nbsp;km (18&nbsp;per cent of the route) is in tunnels; a large {{convert|90|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} tunnel cross-section, as seen here, reduces sudden changes in air pressure experienced by passengers.]]

Reflecting a design speed of {{convert|350|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}},<ref name="PBN_supstruct" /> track layout was designed with a [[minimum railway curve radius|minimum curve radius]] of {{convert|6250|m|ft|abbr=on|0}}, track-centre distance of {{convert|4500|mm|in|abbr=on|1}},<ref name="JRTR" /> [[Right-of-way (transportation)|right-of-way]] width of {{convert|18|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a maximum gradient of 2.5%, except for 3.5% at one location.<ref name="IRJ_02" /> All but {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}} of track is [[Ballastless track|ballastless]],<ref name="rt-thsr" /> combining [[Permanent way#Slab track|slab track]] of Japanese manufacture on open line sections with switches from a German supplier.<ref name="KN_JapEur" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Projects and outlook |publisher=Rail.One |url=http://www.railone.de/en/main-nav/produkte/fern-und-regionalverkehr/feste-fahrbahn/rheda-2000/projekte-und-ausblick.html#c1862 |access-date=29 December 2008 |archive-date=19 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719074007/http://www.railone.de/en/main-nav/produkte/fern-und-regionalverkehr/feste-fahrbahn/rheda-2000/projekte-und-ausblick.html#c1862 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Track laying began in July 2003.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 July 2003 |title=Business briefs/Rail laying begins today |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2003/07/17/2003059835/2 |access-date=3 October 2010 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221013946/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2003/07/17/2003059835 |url-status=live }}</ref> The line was [[Railway electrification system|electrified]] with the [[25 kV AC railway electrification#25 kV AC at 60 Hz|25 kV/60 Hz AC]] system.<ref name="PBN_supstruct" /> The signalling and train control system was laid out for bi-directional operation according to European specifications.<ref name="KN_JapEur" /> Each track section has a checkpoint, and an automatic control system ensures that trains are spaced at least {{convert|1|km|mi|abbr=on}} apart to prevent collisions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.rti.org.tw/Content/GetSingleNews.aspx?ContentID=129938 |publisher=Radio Taiwan International |date=25 July 2011 |title=RTI Radio Taiwan International }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Most of the line is elevated.<ref name="PBN_supstruct">{{cite journal |first=Amair |last=Saleem |title=Taiwan's High Speed Rail: Technical Challenges |url=http://www.pbworld.com/news_events/publications/network/issue_63/63_04_saleem_taiwanshighspeedrail.asp |journal=PB Network |publisher=[[Parsons Brinckerhoff]] |issue=63 |volume=XXI |date=May 2006 |access-date=6 October 2010 |archive-date=15 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715055531/http://www.pbworld.com/news_events/publications/network/issue_63/63_04_saleem_taiwanshighspeedrail.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="CT_tunnels04">{{cite news |date=October 2004 |title=Taiwan's high-speed rail link cruises home |magazine=Converting Today |location=[[Sidcup]], London, UK |url=http://www.convertingtoday.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=29125 |access-date=30 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728021118/http://www.convertingtoday.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=29125 |archive-date=28 July 2011 }}</ref> About {{convert|251|km|mi|abbr=on}} or 73% of the line runs on [[viaduct]]s,<ref name="PBN_supstruct" /> mostly [[Precast concrete|precast]] [[pre-stressed concrete]] [[Box girder bridge|box girder]] spans,<ref name="CT_tunnels04" /> the first of which was put in place in October 2001.<ref>{{cite news |last=Huang |first=Joyce |date=16 October 2001 |title=High-speed rail installs the first giant boxgirder |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2001/10/16/0000107334 |access-date=3 October 2010 |archive-date=7 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007161242/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2001/10/16/0000107334 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Changhua-Kaohsiung Viaduct]] is a {{convert|157317|m|mi|abbr=on}} continuous section from Baguashan (八卦山) in [[Changhua County]] to [[Zuoying District|Zuoying]] in [[Kaohsiung]]. It was the second [[List of longest bridges|longest bridge]] in the world as of 2017.<ref name="CP_records" /><ref name="World Atlas">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/20-longest-bridges-in-the-world.html |title=20 Longest Bridges in the world |publisher=World Atlas |access-date=6 February 2017 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221013154/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/20-longest-bridges-in-the-world.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Viaducts were designed to be [[Earthquake engineering|earthquake resistant]] to allow for trains to stop safely during a seismic event and for repairable damage following a maximum design earthquake.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lusas.com/case/bridge/taiwan.html |title=Seismic Resistant Viaduct Design for the Taiwan High Speed Rail Project |publisher=[[LUSAS]] |access-date=28 February 2011 |archive-date=21 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121125459/http://www.lusas.com/case/bridge/taiwan.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Bridges built over known [[Fault (geology)|fault lines]] were designed to survive fault movements without catastrophic damage.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Martin |first1=Empelmann |last2=Whittaker |first2=David |last3=Los |first3=Eimert |last4=Dorgarten |first4=Hans-Wilhelm |url=http://www.iitk.ac.in/nicee/wcee/article/13_140.pdf |title=Taiwan High Speed Rail Project – Seismic Design of Bridges Across the Tuntzuchiao Active Fault |journal=Proceedings of the 13th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering |publisher=[[Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur]] |year=2004 |access-date=28 February 2011 |archive-date=10 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110135525/http://www.iitk.ac.in/nicee/wcee/article/13_140.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

About {{convert|61|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="RGI_work01">{{cite news |date=March 2001 |title=THSRC starts major work this month |magazine=Railway Gazette International |location=Sutton, Surrey, UK |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/thsrc-starts-major-work-this-month.html |access-date=9 October 2010 |archive-date=15 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615164631/http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/thsrc-starts-major-work-this-month.html |url-status=live }}</ref> or 18% of the line is in tunnels, including {{convert|14|km|mi|abbr=on}} of the TRUPO section in Taipei,<ref name="IRJ_02">{{cite news |last=Briginshaw |first=David |date=October 2002 |title=Taiwan High-Speed Line On Course To Open In 2005 – High Speed: Far East |journal=[[International Railway Journal]] |location=[[Falmouth, Cornwall]], UK |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQQ/is_10_42/ai_99512031/ |access-date=9 October 2010 |archive-date=17 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017115351/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQQ/is_10_42/ai_99512031/ |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as 48 tunnels with a total length of {{convert|46257|m|mi|abbr=on}} on the other sections,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tunnelbuilder.com/enews_weekly/E-News42.pdf |title=World Digest of Ongoing Tunnelling: Taiwan |work=E-News Weekly |pages=2–4 |date=10 October 2002 |publisher=Tunnelbuilder |access-date=9 October 2010 |archive-date=17 November 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031117203029/http://www.tunnelbuilder.com/enews_weekly/E-News42.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> the longest of which is Paghuashan Tunnel, at a finished length of {{convert|7364|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name="AiC_Paghuashan">{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.autcon.2005.08.002 |last1=Lin |first1=Pao H. |last2=Tserng |first2=H. P. |last3=Lin |first3=Ching C. |title=Automated construction of the Paghuashan tunnel for Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) project |volume=15 |issue=5 |year=2006 |pages=627–639 |journal=Automation in Construction |url=http://robot.caece.net/Paper/12_Automated%20Construction%20of%20the%20Paghuashan%20tunnel%20for%20Taiwan%20High%20Speed%20Rail%20Project.pdf |access-date=4 October 2010 |archive-date=23 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723041500/http://robot.caece.net/Paper/12_Automated%20Construction%20of%20the%20Paghuashan%20tunnel%20for%20Taiwan%20High%20Speed%20Rail%20Project.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Forty-two of the tunnels included a total of {{convert|39050|m|mi|abbr=on|3}} of mined sections, all of which were bored with the [[New Austrian Tunnelling method|sequential excavation and support]] construction method, with excavated tunnel faces of {{convert|135|-|155|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, between November 2000 and July 2003.<ref name="CT_tunnels04" /> The finished interior cross-sectional area of {{convert|90|m2|sqft|abbr=on}},<ref name="IRJ_02" /> set according to wider European standards,<ref name="KN_JapEur">{{cite news |date=22 December 2004 |title=BizTrend: Taiwan bullet train project not on right track. |work=[[Kyodo News]] via The Free Library |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/BizTrend%3A+Taiwan+bullet+train+project+not+on+right+track.-a0126560783 |access-date=4 October 2010 |archive-date=5 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205001926/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/BizTrend:+Taiwan+bullet+train+project+not+on+right+track.-a0126560783 |url-status=live }}</ref> provides space for two tracks with safety walkways.<ref name="PBN_supstruct" />

After four months of delays, trial runs using the first [[THSR 700T]] trains began on 27 January 2005, on the Tainan–Kaohsiung section.<ref name="TT_first-test-run">{{cite news |last=Ho |first=Jessie |date=28 January 2005 |title=Despite delays, high-speed rail begins test runs |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/01/28/2003221218 |access-date=3 October 2010 |archive-date=20 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820183108/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/01/28/2003221218 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 30 October 2005, a day after a test run passed the planned top service speed of {{convert|300|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}},<ref>{{cite news |date=30 October 2005 |title=Taiwan Quick Take/Train tests to 300kph |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/10/30/2003277977/2 |access-date=3 October 2010 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221014005/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/10/30/2003277977 |url-status=live }}</ref> the targeted maximum test speed of {{convert|315|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}} was achieved.<ref name="TT_315test">{{cite news |last=Ho |first=Jessie |date=7 November 2005 |title=Premier backs bullet train project during test ride |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/11/07/2003279087 |access-date=3 October 2010 |archive-date=5 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205012142/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/11/07/2003279087 |url-status=live }}</ref> The section between [[Banqiao Station|Banqiao]] (Taipei) and [[Xinzuoying Station|Zuoying]] (Kaohsiung) opened to the public on 5 January 2007.<ref name="startofservices">{{cite news |last=Ho |first=Jessie |date=6 January 2007 |title=High speed rail commences operations |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/01/06/2003343562 |access-date=28 September 2010 |archive-date=20 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820182610/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/01/06/2003343562 |url-status=live }}</ref> The HSR platforms at [[Taipei Station]] opened on 2 March 2007, bringing the entire line into operation.<ref>{{cite news |date=2 March 2007 |title=Taiwan Quick Take/Taipei HSR station opens |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/03/02/2003350618 |access-date=28 September 2010 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221013154/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/03/02/2003350618 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Stations===
A distinctive feature of the system's station placement is that many are located at the periphery of urban areas, rather than within city centers. The decision was made with the expectation that the stations would act as centers for [[planned communities]] and thus increase the property values of the surrounding area. A study in 2010 showed that this isn't the case,<ref name="albalate"/>{{rp|126–127}} but later analyses show that property prices around certain stations have indeed risen.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Joyce M.W. |first1=Low |last2=Lee |first2=Byung Kwon |title=A Data-Driven Analysis on the Impact of High-Speed Rails on Land Prices in Taiwan |journal=Applied Sciences |date=12 May 2020 |volume=10 |issue=10 |page=3357 |doi=10.3390/app10103357 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=游智文 |title=全台15重劃區房價飆 最狂前三名都在新竹 |url=https://udn.com/news/story/7241/5779164 |website=United Daily News |access-date=28 December 2021 |language=zh-tw |date=29 September 2021 |archive-date=13 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013234911/https://udn.com/news/story/7241/5779164 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since the THSR's opening, cities have gradually expanded their mass transit systems to connect with these stations.

===Environmental issues===

[[File:980224新竹金山面老樹醫療保固峻工掛紅布儀式18.jpg|thumb|THSRC drafted the Hsinchu Old Camphor Tree Medical Plan, which called for the repair of decayed branches as well as measures designed to maintain the long-term growth and the health of the tree.]] [[Environmental mitigation]] measures in the line's construction phase included the construction of animal bridges over the line, the planting and re-planting of trees along the track as [[Noise barrier|noise screens]],<ref name="rt-thsr">{{cite web |url=http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/taiwan/ |title=Taiwan High-Speed Rail Line Network |work=www.railway-technology.com|publisher=Net Resources International |access-date=3 October 2010 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221013201/https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/taiwan/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the purchase of farmland to create a preservation area for [[Jacana (genus)|jacana birds]] away from the line.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lee |first=Derek |date=31 March 2002 |title=Progress without ruffled feathers |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2002/03/31/0000129996 |access-date=3 October 2010 |archive-date=7 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007161256/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2002/03/31/0000129996 |url-status=live }}</ref>

THSRC is involved in the preservation of the [[pheasant-tailed jacana]], which is considered endangered in Taiwan. An artificial habitat recovery project was completed in collaboration with the local government, country development organizations and non-profit organizations for a cost of NT$50 million. In 2007, the recovery habitat was officially renamed the "Pheasant-tailed Jacana Eco-Educational Nature Park" and since then, it has opened to the public. THSRC arranges for elementary and junior high school students to visit the park annually.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jacana.tw/index.php|title=水雉生態教育園區|access-date=13 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530052815/http://jacana.tw/index.php|archive-date=30 May 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="Yahoo">{{cite web|url=http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/jw!nUFZG_eFBSiJNIc2j1bw/article?mid=4592&prev=4594&next=4589|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807200051/http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/jw!nUFZG_eFBSiJNIc2j1bw/article?mid=4592&prev=4594&next=4589|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 August 2020|script-title=zh:搶救金山面老樹及伯公廟|language=zh|access-date=13 June 2012| title=Yahoo }}</ref> A 330 year old [[Camphora officinarum|camphor tree]] and a temple in [[Hsinchu County]] are located on the main route of the THSR, and both of them faced removal because of railway construction. The temple established beside the old tree serves as a major religious site for the local community.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}} In 1998, THSRC adjusted the line and design to keep the tree and temple in their original place and cooperated with the local government and people to protect the old tree and the temple until today. Afterwards, together with the local government, the Environment and the Resources Protection Committee, and cultural and historical authorities, THSRC drafted the Hsinchu Old Camphor Tree Medical Plan, which called for the repair of decayed branches as well as measures designed to maintain the long-term growth and the health of the tree.<ref name="Yahoo" /><ref>{{cite news |last=筱慧 |first=車 |date=15 March 2008 |title=搶救金山面老樟樹，各方集思廣益(in Chinese) |newspaper=The Liberty Times, 自由時報 |url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/mar/15/today-north1.htm |access-date=13 June 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419193803/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/mar/15/today-north1.htm |archive-date=19 April 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Financial==
{{clear}}
===Revenue and cost===
<div style="overflow-x:auto;">
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: right;"
|+{{sronly|Revenue and cost of Taiwan High Speed Rail}}
! Item !! scope="col" | 2007<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/download/en/01/thsrc_f_2007.pdf |title=2007 Financial Report |publisher=THSRC |access-date=10 May 2014 |archive-date=25 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225121529/http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/download/en/01/thsrc_f_2007.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>!! scope="col" | 2008<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/download/en/01/thsrc_f_2008.pdf |title=2008 Financial Report |publisher=THSRC |access-date=10 May 2014 |archive-date=25 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225121604/http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/download/en/01/thsrc_f_2008.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="FinRep2009" /> !! scope="col" | 2009<ref name="FinRep2009">{{cite web |url=http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/download/en/01/thsrc_f_2009.pdf |title=2009 Financial Report |publisher=THSRC |access-date=10 May 2014 |archive-date=14 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514063947/http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/download/en/01/thsrc_f_2009.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="FinRep2010" /> !! scope="col" | 2010<ref name="FinRep2010">{{cite web |url=https://www.thsrc.com.tw/download/tc/file/01/thsrc_f_99_full.pdf |title=2010 Financial Report |language=zh |publisher=THSRC |access-date=14 February 2012 |archive-date=20 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920092343/https://www.thsrc.com.tw/download/tc/file/01/thsrc_f_99_full.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>!! scope="col" | 2011<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/download/en/01/thsrc_f_2011.pdf |title=2011 Financial Report |publisher=THSRC |access-date=10 May 2014 |archive-date=25 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225122508/http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/download/en/01/thsrc_f_2011.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>!! scope="col" | 2012<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/download/en/01/thsrc_f_2012.pdf |title=2012 Financial Report |publisher=THSRC |access-date=10 May 2014 |archive-date=25 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225123106/http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/download/en/01/thsrc_f_2012.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
! scope="col" | 2013<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/download/en/01/thsrc_f_2013.pdf|title = Taiwan High Speed Rail 2013 Annual Report|access-date = 28 November 2015|archive-date = 7 March 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160307065911/http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/download/en/01/thsrc_f_2013.pdf|url-status = dead}}</ref>
! scope="col" | 2014<ref name=ar17>{{cite web |url=http://www.thsrc.com.tw/event/tmp/pdf/2016_en_report.pdf |title=2017 Annual Report |publisher=THSRC |access-date=2 February 2018 |archive-date=23 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823115014/http://www.thsrc.com.tw/event/tmp/pdf/2016_en_report.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
! scope="col" | 2015<ref name=ar17/>
! scope="col" | 2016<ref name=ar17/>
! scope="col" | 2017<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.thsrc.com.tw/event/tmp/pdf/2017_annual_EN.pdf|title=Taiwan High Speed Rail Annual Report 2017|publisher=Taiwan High Speed Rail|year=2018|access-date=1 September 2018|archive-date=16 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816120312/https://www.thsrc.com.tw/event/tmp/pdf/2017_annual_EN.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
! scope="col" | 2018<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.thsrc.com.tw/event/tmp/pdf/2018_annual_EN.pdf|title=Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation 2018 Annual Report|publisher=Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation|year=2019|access-date=20 May 2020|archive-date=9 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209122701/https://www.thsrc.com.tw/event/tmp/pdf/2018_annual_EN.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Ticket [[revenue]](A)
| 13,155,221
| 22,441,012
| 22,800,753
| 27,025,822
| 31,556,782
| 33,263,223
|
|
|
|
| 42,221,888
|44,098,796
|-
! scope="row" | Other operating revenue(B)
| 347,567
| 606,571
| 522,959
| 609,529
| 679,723
| 720,914
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Operating revenue''(C=A+B)
| ''13,502,788''
| ''23,047,583''
| ''23,323,712''
| ''27,635,351''
| ''32,236,505''
| ''33,984,137''
| ''36,101,166''
| ''38,510,000''
| ''51,901,392''
| ''40,610,906''
| 43,435,042
|45,415,007
|-
! scope="row" | [[Depreciation]]
| −18,589,587
| −18,994,251
| −8,222,634
| −9,411,998
| −10,647,252
| −11,206,236
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Profit (accounting)|Operating income]]''
| ''−14,909,057''
| ''−6,238,553''
| ''5,564,846''
| ''9,071,545''
| ''12,058,405''
| ''12,095,229''
| ''11,394,464''
| ''11,880,000''
| ''20,556,496''
| ''13,699,496''
|17,754,984
|19,144,964
|-
! scope="row" | Financial revenue
| 315,187
| 644,500
| 639,869
| 230,348
| 248,318
| 633,040
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! scope="row" | [[Interest]]
| −14,423,091
| −17,464,896
| −10,778,335
| −8,912,483
| −8,854,892
| −8,737,156
|
|
| −9,256,852
| −8,375,559
| −7,463,329
| −6,618,272
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Earnings before taxes|Net pre-tax income]]''
| ''−29,398,694''
| ''−25,009,697''
| ''−4,791,125''
| ''-1,210,889''
| ''5,783,743''
| ''3,956,828''
| ''2,710,000''
| ''2,660,000''
| ''18,833,835''
| ''4,997,575''
|6,478,500
|7,311,823
|-
! scope="row" | [[Tax]]/[[tax refund]]
| −54
| 0
| 1,670
| 848
| −2,597,914
| −379,992
| −579,439
|
| 2,038,795
| −848,477
| −1,138,595
|3,384,558
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Net income]]''
| '''''−29,398,748'''''
| '''''−25,009,697'''''
| '''''−4,789,455'''''
| '''''−1,210,041'''''
| '''''3,185,833'''''
| '''''3,576,836'''''
| '''''3,288,951'''''
| '''''5,520,000'''''
| '''''20,872,630'''''
| '''''4,149,098'''''
| '''5,339,905'''
|'''10,696,381'''
|-
| colspan="13" align="left" | <small>All figures are in thousands of NT$.</small>
|}</div>

Most of THSRC's revenue comes from ticket sales; supplemental income comes from other activities such as advertising and renting spaces for standing shops and spots in plazas. Advertising spots on trains and station platforms have also been sold.<ref>{{cite news |last=靜賢 |first=賀 |date=25 September 2012 |title=菜菜子3天操40小時 高鐵每天租金百萬? (in Chinese) |newspaper=The Liberty Times, 自由時報 |url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2012/new/sep/25/today-show1.htm |access-date=24 April 2013 |archive-date=28 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028211919/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2012/new/sep/25/today-show1.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Revenues grew along with ridership over the first three years, but ridership remained below expectations. In 2008 the second year of operation, revenues fell barely short of THSRC's expectations a year earlier of a doubling of first-year results.<ref name="THSRC2ndYear" /><ref name="DoubleRevenue">{{cite news |last=Lin |first=Judy |date=18 January 2008 |title=THSRC aims to double revenues |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2008/01/18/2003397822 |access-date=6 September 2008 |archive-date=14 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014010624/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2008/01/18/2003397822 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The cost of running the trains and infrastructure, or cash [[operating cost]]s, was initially over NT$1 billion a month,<ref>{{cite news |date=13 March 2007 |title=THSRC runs in red during first 2 months of operations |newspaper=The China Post |location=Taipei |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2007/03/13/104492/THSRC-runs.htm |access-date=19 September 2010 |archive-date=23 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923065519/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2007/03/13/104492/THSRC-runs.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> but was reduced to around NT$850–900 million in 2008.<ref name="cash-breakeven" /> Revenues first exceeded this level, thus generating a positive [[operating cash flow]], in the fourth month of operation (April 2007).<ref>{{cite news |date=11 May 2007 |title=THSRC April revenue exceeds NT$1 bil. |newspaper=The China Post |location=Taipei |agency=CNA |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2007/05/11/109339/THSRC-April.htm |access-date=19 September 2010 |archive-date=23 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923065607/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2007/05/11/109339/THSRC-April.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

For THSRC, the over heavy accounting of the [[fixed cost]] of [[fixed asset]]s like rolling stock and infrastructure ([[depreciation]]) is a significant non-cash element of total operating costs. In its first two years of operation, THSRC applied [[Depreciation#Straight-line depreciation|straight-line depreciation]], distributing costs evenly over a period of 26.5 years.<ref name="handoverperiod">{{cite news |date=15 October 2009 |title=Official hints at extending THSRC handover period |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2009/10/15/2003456006 |access-date=30 November 2009 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807231524/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2009/10/15/2003456006 |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result, the balance of operating revenues and costs ([[Profit (accounting)|operating income]]) showed a high loss in the first year of operation, which was only reduced as revenues grew in the second year. The depreciation period set for THSRC reflected the length of the B.O.T. concession rather than the much longer lifespan of the infrastructure,<ref name="handoverperiod" /> and it is the factor for the operating loss.<ref name="loss-blame">{{cite news |date=4 June 2009 |title=High Speed Rail system not suitable for gov't takeover: Ing |newspaper=The China Post |location=Taipei |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/2009/06/04/210772/High-Speed.htm |access-date=30 November 2009 |archive-date=10 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910131436/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/2009/06/04/210772/High-Speed.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> After adopting an [[Depreciation#Activity depreciation|activity depreciation method]] which is variable in time,<ref name="red-overh">{{cite news |last=Hsu |first=Crystal |date=2 September 2009 |title=High Speed Rail narrows losses on lower overheads |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2009/09/02/2003452605 |access-date=19 September 2010 |archive-date=6 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906063121/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2009/09/02/2003452605 |url-status=live }}</ref> THSRC posted its first operating profit for 2009, the third year of operation.<ref name="FTa_net-op-prof">{{cite news |date=23 June 2010 |title=THSRC generates first net operating profit in 2009 |work=Focus Taiwan |agency=CNA |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aECO&ID=201006230037 |access-date=19 September 2010 |archive-date=3 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303160415/http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aECO&ID=201006230037 |url-status=live }}</ref> The company reported its first annual profit of NT$5.78 billion after five years of operation.<ref>{{cite news |date=31 March 2012 |title=High speed rail operator sees first ever profit after five years |work=The China Post |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan-business/2012/03/31/336330/High-speed.htm |access-date=2 April 2012 |archive-date=17 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017115352/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan-business/2012/03/31/336330/High-speed.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

For the first time in its five-year operation, the Company reported a net income of NT$5.78 billion, with earnings per share of NT$0.59.<ref name="thsrc-2011" /> Revenues increased by 16.65% from NT$27.64 billion to NT$32.24 billion, with operating costs and expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization) rising by only 4.98%. Over the same period of time, gross profit totaled NT$12.98 billion (an increase of 30.32%), income from operations totaled NT$12.06 billion (an increase of 32.93%) and EBITDA totaled NT$22.73 billion (an increase of 22.34%). 2011 gross profit, income from operation and EBITDA were all record highs.<ref name="thsrc-2011" /> Since commencing operations in 2007, THSRC has had a significant influence on Taiwan's economy and on the lives of its people. In 2011, the Company continued to pursue sustainable growth aligned with the interests of shareholders and society, achieving record profits even amid a challenging economic environment.<ref name="thsrc-2011" />

The interest cost is another major item of this company's financing. In the first few years of operation, interest rates were well above market rates.<ref name="TT_earncost09" /><ref name="debt-depr-int" /> [[Interest expense]] per month stood at around NT$1.3 billion in 2008, when THSRC first achieved [[Break-even (economics)|break-even]] [[cash flow]], with revenue and cash expenses (which exclude depreciation) both around NT$2.1 billion in 2008.<ref name="cash-breakeven">{{cite news |last=Shen |first=Ben |date=29 May 2008 |title=High-Speed Rail in Taiwan Finally Breaks Even in April |work=Taiwan Economic News |url=http://news.cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_23511.html |access-date=24 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220144423/http://news.cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_23511.html |archive-date=20 February 2011 }}</ref> Interest rates fell in the first half of 2009, reducing interest expenses<ref name="red-overh" /> and contributing to a reduced [[net income|net loss]].<ref name="FTa_net-op-prof" />

In 2010, THSRC obtained a new syndicate loan to alleviate its imminent financial burden. The company signed a NT$382 billion refinancing contract with a consortium of eight domestic banks led by the Bank of Taiwan, and used the new loan to pay off the previous syndicated loan, which had higher interest.<ref name="THSRC_IRJ" /> {{As of|2011}}, the long-term debts totalling NT$385 billion included NT$26 billion in corporate bonds and NT$359 billion in bank loans. In comparison with the terms and conditions of previous loans, the refinancing debts carried lower interest rates and longer tenors, up to 22 years.<ref name="THSRC_IRJ" />

===Financial and loan===
In cumulative figures, until July 2008, depreciation and interest were equal to 95% of THSRC's accumulated debt.<ref name="debt-depr-int">{{cite news |last=Liu |first=Philip |date=29 August 2008 |title=THSRC's accumulated red ink equals half its capital |work=Taiwan Economic News |url=http://news.cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_24477.html |access-date=19 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520125326/http://news.cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_24477.html |archive-date=20 May 2011 }}</ref> Both THSRC<ref name="loss-blame" /> and a September 2009 government report<ref name="TT_earncost09">{{cite news |date=25 September 2009 |title=Ministry defends THSRC's earnings record, potential |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2009/09/25/2003454416 |access-date=30 November 2009 |archive-date=28 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928131532/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2009/09/25/2003454416 |url-status=live }}</ref> identified an unreasonable financial structure and the resulting high interest rates and high depreciation charges as the main causes of negative financial performance, while the government assessed THSRC to have performed well in its core business, as measured by [[earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization]] (EBITDA).<ref name="handoverperiod" /> To reduce its interest load, THSRC sought to revise its loan structure in 2008<ref>{{cite news |last=Liu |first=Philip |date=2 September 2008 |title=THSRC Requests Banking Consortium to Cut Interest Rate |work=Taiwan Economic News |url=http://news.cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_24503.html |access-date=24 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724032104/http://news.cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_24503.html |archive-date=24 July 2011 }}</ref> and again in 2009.<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=THSRC |date=10 February 2009 |url=https://www.thsrc.com.tw/tc/about/ab_news_detail.asp?type=1&PKey={B2FB81FD-1F43-4503-8761-9F0F1E8A652E} |language=zh |title=針對媒體有關高鐵融資結構之說法，高鐵強調依風險降低之事實重新檢視規劃融資安排，屬BOT計畫正常作業，絕非所謂紓困特惠。 |access-date=28 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=7 February 2009 |title=Taiwan High-Speed Rail seeking favorable loan terms |newspaper=The China Post |location=Taipei |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/2009/02/07/195003/Taiwan-High-Speed.htm |access-date=24 February 2009 |archive-date=19 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319150213/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/2009/02/07/195003/Taiwan-High-Speed.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> To reduce depreciation costs by increasing the amortization time, THSRC requested an extension of its 35-year concession period.<ref name="handoverperiod" />

By the summer of 2009, THSRC's cumulative losses were equivalent to two-thirds of its [[Equity (finance)|equity capital]]. In response to the [[2008 financial crisis]] and the [[Great Recession]], THSRC proposed to increase income and reduce expenditures in several aspects in the hope of raising operation performances. In February 2009, THSRC announced to adjust train frequency, cut down salary payment by 10~20% among management level, and measured to expand fare promotion to stimulate ridership.
While the media questioned whether the planned construction of three more intermediate stations and the extension to Nangang would be postponed, THSRC published press release on 28 September 2009, stating that the company will comply with "Taiwan High Speed. Rail Construction and Operation Contract", and the construction project of 3 intermediate stations, namely Miaoli, Changhua and Yunlin will be initiated in July 2012, and is scheduled to start its operation from 2015. By the time of completion, there will be a total of 12 stations along the THSRC operation route.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 August 2009 |title=Taiwan high speed rail refinancing agreed |magazine=Railway Gazette International |location=Sutton, Surrey, UK |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/taiwan-high-speed-rail-refinancing-agreed/browse/1.html |access-date=30 November 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919154902/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/taiwan-high-speed-rail-refinancing-agreed/browse/1.html |archive-date=19 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The company was put under new management in September 2009 with the aim of turning around the company's finances with government help in arranging refinancing of the loans.<ref>{{cite news |first=Hsu |last=Crystal |date=23 September 2009 |title=Ou Chin-der replaces Ing at THSRC |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2009/09/23/2003454258 |access-date=30 November 2009 |archive-date=3 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003062820/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2009/09/23/2003454258 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The government took majority control of the company after the election of its new board on 10 November 2009.<ref>{{cite news |first=Huang |last=Joyce |date=11 November 2009 |title=Government takes charge at THSRC |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2009/11/11/2003458170 |access-date=30 November 2009 |archive-date=16 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091116021803/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2009/11/11/2003458170 |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2010, when accumulated losses already exceeded NT$70 billion, THSRC signed a government-guaranteed refinancing deal in which eight government-dominated banks provided NT$382 billion at lower interest rates and longer maturity.<ref>{{cite news |last=Liu |first=Philip |date=11 January 2010 |title=THSRC Signs NT$380 B. Refinancing Contract |work=Taiwan Economic News |url=http://news.cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_30703.html |access-date=22 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829033252/http://news.cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_30703.html |archive-date=29 August 2010 }}</ref> The government also approved the company's new variable depreciation charge.<ref name="FTa_net-op-prof" />

==Incidents==
On 12 April 2013, suspicious luggage items were found inside a toilet of northbound train No. 616 as it was heading towards [[THSR Hsinchu Station]]. The train was stopped at [[THSR Taoyuan Station]] and all passengers were evacuated. Later, it was determined the luggage contained an unidentified liquid in cans, alarm clock and white particulate matter. The items were dismantled by a bomb squad and taken for further investigation. Two [[Kuomintang|KMT]] legislators, [[Hsu Hsin-ying]] and [[Lu Shiow-yen]], were on board.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/04/13/2003559501|title=Suspicious items lead to evacuation of bullet train|work=taipeitimes.com|date=13 April 2013 |access-date=13 April 2013|archive-date=10 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210230021/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/04/13/2003559501|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2013/04/13/375954/Explosives-found.htm |title=Explosives found on High Speed Rail train - the China Post |access-date=13 April 2013 |archive-date=15 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415100303/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2013/04/13/375954/Explosives-found.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Part of the tracks near [[THSR Tainan Station|Tainan]] were badly damaged during an [[2016 Taiwan earthquake|earthquake]] on 6 February 2016. All high-speed rail services south of [[Chiayi HSR station|Chiayi Station]] were suspended until 7 February 2016.

On 10 May 2017, a non-passenger carrying train traveled in the opposite direction of the track from Zuoying to Tainan for {{Cvt|1|km}} due to negligence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201705130019.aspx|date=13 May 2017|first1=Wei-ting|last1=Chen|first2=Lilian|last2=Wu|title=High speed train runs on wrong track, first time ever|publisher=Focus Taiwan|access-date=17 May 2017|archive-date=16 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516163359/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201705130019.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], THSR, along with the Taiwan Railway Administration and bus services nationwide, began to require all passengers to wear surgical masks as of 1 April 2020. In addition, infrared sensors were set up at twelve stations to detect fevers, eating and drinking were prohibited on board the trains, and trains and stations were disinfected more frequently. THSR also cancelled non-reserved seating tickets, which had allowed passengers to stand if no seats were available. It was reported that the switch to reserved seats only aimed to reduce crowding.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Everington |first1=Keoni |title=Masks mandatory on Taiwan trains, intercity buses starting today |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3908366 |website=Taiwan News |date=April 2020 |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-date=9 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009022345/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3908366 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Taiwan's THSR to cancel non-reserved seats first week of April as virus precaution |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3884502 |website=Taiwan News |date=3 March 2020 |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-date=5 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305134039/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3884502 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Public relations activities==
THSRC conducts community engagement activities to raise its profile.

Since 2009, the company has organized an annual "Ride THSR and Join the Book Exhibition for Free" event to promote a national reading culture; school-age passengers from remote villages are given free admission to the Taipei International Book Exhibition and go there on a themed high-speed "reading train", which features a celebrity reading a book over the train's public address system.<ref name="thsrc-2011" />

Since 2010, along with World Vision Taiwan, THSRC has run a tuition fee assistance program for thousands of underprivileged children, to which passengers contribute.<ref name="thsrc-2011" />

Other events have been [[a cappella]] singers at stations; gift-giving to couples taking wedding photos at major stations; station tours for the public and experience-sharing with its fellow railway transportation operators; and in collaboration with non-profit organizations, thousands of free rides to underprivileged groups and families.<ref name="thsrc-2011" />

Students at primary, secondary and tertiary level  learn about high-speed rail and THSRC at "THSR Camps", held in partnership with the Railway Cultural Society of Taiwan, the National Chiao Tung University Railway Research Society, and the China Youth Corps.<ref name="thsrc-2011" />

==In popular culture==
The first film to feature THSR prominently was the 2007 Taiwanese movie ''[[Summer's Tail]]'', directed by [[Cheng Wen-tang]] ({{lang|zh-tw|鄭文堂}}).<ref name="lt-summers-tail">{{cite news |date=8 May 2007 |script-title=zh:夏天的尾巴 緊抓高鐵譜青春 |language=zh |newspaper=Liberty Times |location=Taipei |url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2007/new/may/8/today-show15.htm |access-date=8 December 2010 |archive-date=9 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209225450/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2007/new/may/8/today-show15.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

''[[Railfan: Taiwan High Speed Rail]]'', a 2007 [[train simulator]] video game developed jointly by Taiwanese company Actainment and Japanese company Ongakukan on the basis of the latter's [[Train Simulator (Ongakukan)|Train Simulator series]], featured real video and was the first Taiwanese game for [[Sony Computer Entertainment]]'s [[PlayStation 3]] system.<ref name="railfan-ann">{{cite news |last=Tan |first=Jason |date=20 April 2007 |title=Sony announces first Taiwanese game for popular PS3 console |newspaper=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2007/04/20/2003357492 |access-date=8 December 2010 |archive-date=27 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927072224/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2007/04/20/2003357492 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The "National Geographic" website chose travel by Taiwan's high speed train as the "Best winter trip” in 2013.<ref>{{cite news |last= National Geographic |first= Travel |date= 16 November 2012 |title= Best Winter Trip 2013/ Western Taiwan by (High Speed) Train |magazine= National Geographic |url= http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-trips-winter-2013/#/taiwan-latern-festival_60490_600x450.jpg |access-date= 9 May 2013 |archive-date= 21 December 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211221013217/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/best-trips-winter-2013#/taiwan-latern-festival_60490_600x450.jpg |url-status= dead }}</ref>

{{portal bar|Taiwan|Trains|Transport}}

==See also==
*[[Rail transport in Taiwan]]
*[[Transportation in Taiwan#Railways|Transportation in Taiwan]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |first=Christopher P. |last=Hood |year=2006 |title=Shinkansen – From Bullet Train to Symbol of Modern Japan|location=London |publisher=Routledge |isbn=0-415-44409-8}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Taiwan High Speed Rail}}
*{{Official website|https://en.thsrc.com.tw/}} {{in lang|en}}
*[http://www.hsr.gov.tw/homepage.nsf/homepage-eng?OpenFrameset Bureau of High Speed Rail, Ministry of Transportation and Communications] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123211246/http://www.hsr.gov.tw/homepage.nsf/homepage-eng?OpenFrameset |date=23 November 2015 }}

{{Taiwan High Speed Rail}}
{{Taiwan Rail Transport}}
{{High-speed rail}}
{{High-speed railway lines}}
{{FTSE TWSE Taiwan 50}}{{Transport in Taiwan}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Taiwan High Speed Rail| ]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Taiwan]]
[[Category:Rail transportation in Taipei]]
[[Category:Rail transportation in Tainan]]
[[Category:Rail transportation in Kaohsiung]]
[[Category:Build–operate–transfer]]
[[Category:High-speed rail in Taiwan]]
[[Category:High-speed trains]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 2007]]
[[Category:2007 establishments in Taiwan]]
[[Category:25 kV AC railway electrification]]
[[Category:Companies based in Taipei]]