Taiwan is set to enhance its high-speed rail network significantly following the Executive Yuan’s approval of two key expansion projects. The projects will introduce new lines from Nangang to Yilan County and from Kaohsiung to Pingtung County, aiming to bolster national connectivity. Premier Cho Jung-tai has green-lighted the 60.6-kilometer extension stretching from Nangang HSR Station in Taipei to Yilan, a venture estimated at NT$352.2 billion (US$10.9 billion). This development promises to cut travel time between Taipei and Yilan to approximately 28 minutes, offering a much faster alternative to current rail services.
The proposed Nangang–Yilan HSR line will traverse several districts in New Taipei City, including Sijhih, Pingsi, Shuangsi, and Gongliao, before reaching Yilan through Toucheng and Jiaosi townships. The new line will culminate at a station near the Yilan County Government complex, providing convenient links to Yilan Railway Station. The construction is slated for completion by 2037, with expectations that the line will serve around 27,000 passengers on weekdays and 60,000 on weekends by 2051.
In addition to the Yilan extension, the Executive Yuan has sanctioned a 26.22-kilometer HSR expansion connecting Zuoying HSR Station in Kaohsiung with a new station in Lioukuaitso, Pingtung City, via Kaohsiung Railway Station. Authorities plan to advance the project’s second-stage environmental impact assessment next year, which is crucial for the project’s progression.
These expansions are part of a broader governmental initiative to establish a comprehensive nationwide rail network. This ambitious plan envisions enabling travel across Taiwan in four interconnected 90-minute segments. In pursuit of this goal, the government is also focused on upgrading the Hualien–Taitung railway to a double-track electrified line and enhancing the South Link Line between Taitung and Pingtung. These improvements aim to boost capacity, fortify resilience against extreme weather, and refine the island’s transportation infrastructure.