 Inquiry about times of trains |
| Question 1: How do I get the railway timetable? |
| Answer: |
You can log on to http://train.twtraffic.com.tw/TaiTrain/ for the railway timetable of the Administration. You can also call railway stations directly. Log on to http://www.railway.gov.tw/c/c8_01.htm for numbers of railway stations' service lines. |
| Question 2: How do I obtain information about prices of train tickets? |
| Answer: |
Log on to http://train.twtraffic.com.tw/TaiTrain/ for information about prices of train tickets. You should click the route, date, departure place, destination and the train type that you want, and then you will obtain the price and other related information. |
| Question 3: |
Why cannot I obtain information about small trains in Ali Mountains such as the timetable and prices of train tickets or book tickets on the website of Taiwan Railway Administration? |
| Answer: |
Forest railways in Ali Mountains are under the administration of the Forestry Bureau, Council of Agriculture under the Executive Yuan. Please phone the Northern Gate Station in Jia Yi ((05)276-8094) for more information. |
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| Ticketing affairs |
| Question1： |
I board the “Zi Qiang” train with a ticket for the electric train for some particular reason. While checking tickets, the conductor, besides asking me to make up the balance, imposes a fine on me. Why? |
| Answer: |
Buying the ticket for the electric train means that you promise to take the electric train. If you board a train with higher ticket fare, you shall make up the balance on your own accord. If you don't make up the balance until the conductor checks tickets, you will be fined. |
| Question 2: Why cannot I buy a round-trip ticket without appointed returning date and train number at post offices? |
| Answer: |
In order to make things convenient for passengers who book tickets online or via the voice system, the Administration cooperates with post offices in order to increase the number of places for ticket collection. If you want to buy a round-trip ticket without appointed returning date and train number, you should go to railway stations to buy the ticket. |
| Question 3: Could you give me a brief introduction to the types of multi-trip tickets? |
| Answer: |
There are four types of multi-trip tickets, namely: Zi Qiang, Chu Kuang, Fu Shing/electric train and ordinary train. Multi-trip tickets can be used by passengers who shuttle between two places (the traveling distance shall at least reach 81 kilometers). A multi-trip ticket will be valid within six months after purchasing (thirty ridings). Before boarding, the passenger shall go to the ticket window of the railway station to have the ticket sealed. Passengers with multi-trip tickets for numbered express trains, can obtain seats via booking systems or at the ticket window at the railway station. |
| Question 4: Why must I return the ticket and buy a new one to change the departure date for my round-trip ticket? |
| Answer: |
In changes to train tickets, it is our principle not to change the departure date (free of service charges). If you want to depart at an earlier or later date, you shall return your ticket and buy a new one. And therefore, the departure date for a round-trip ticket cannot be changed. After buying a round-trip ticket, if the passenger wants to return the ticket for either way, he will not enjoy the discount of 10% on ticket fare. |
| Question 5: Post offices will not open on holidays. Can the period for collecting tickets be extended? |
| Answer: |
Ticket collection at post offices is just an aid to collection at railway stations. While setting the deadline for ticket collection, we will consider the rights and interests of the majority of passengers. And therefore, we recommend that you collect your tickets at railway stations during holidays. |
| Question 6: Why are there no discounted tickets for servicemen? |
| Answer: |
Preferential treatment for servicemen shall be handled in accordance with “Measures for giving preferential treatments to servicemen traveling by state-owned transport means” issued by the Ministry of Transportation. According to the 1997's amendment to the Measures, the Administration had rescinded preferential treatment for servicemen in buying tickets since 1 November 1997. |
| Question 7: |
I booked the ticket from Ban-qiao to Xin-zhu on July 1 and the ticket from Xin-zhu to Ban-qiao on July 2. Why couldn’t I enjoy the discount of 10% on the ticket fare? |
| Answer : |
Valid periods for round-trip tickets include: |
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I |
Non-numbered express trains:
(1) If the traveling distance is 80 kilometers or less, tickets for both journeys are only valid on that very day.
(2) If the traveling distance is less than 300 kilometers, the ticket for the outward journey is only valid for one day. If the traveling distance is more than 300 kilometers but less than 600 kilometers, the ticket for the outward journey is valid for two days. If the traveling distance is more than 600 kilometers, the ticket for the outward journey is valid for three days.
(3) By adding one day to the result of doubling the valid period of the ticket for the outward journey, we will determine the valid period of the return journey. However, if the traveling distance is less than 80 kilometers, the ticket for the return journey is only valid on that very day. |
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II |
Numbered express trains:
(1) The ticket for the outward journey is only valid on that very day.
(2) If the ticket for the return journey has no appointed date and seat number and the traveling distance is 80 kilometers or below, the ticket for the return journey is only valid on that very day. If the traveling distance is more than 80 kilometers, the ticket for the return journey is valid for fifteen days. If the ticket for the return journey has appointed a returning date and seat number, the ticket is only valid on that very day. |
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The traveling distance between Ban-qiao and Xin-zhu is less than 80 kilometers, and therefore, you cannot enjoy the discount of 10% off on the ticket fare. |
| Question 8: |
When I return my ticket during the Spring Festival, the railway station charges me one tenth of ticket fare as the service fee, not thirteen NT$. Why? |
| Answer: |
In normal times, our service charge for returning tickets is thirteen NT$. However, during the Spring Festival, the service charge will be one tenth of the ticket fare, which is included in “Plan of passenger transport during the Spring Festival” of the Administration. In addition, it was examined and approved by the Ministry of Transportation before enforcement. This regulation can be seen on notices in railway stations, our website (http://www.railway.gov.tw/c/c1_01.htm) and railway timetables. Other transport industries, in order to safeguard the rights and interests of the majority of passengers, also set strict regulations on ticketing affairs during the Spring Festival. |
| Question 9: How do I use the seat number card? |
| Answer： |
In order not to disturb passengers’ rest while conductors are checking tickets, seat number cards are adopted by some “Zi Qiang” trains. Before taking a rest, the passenger shall insert his seat number card into the socket in front of his seat. However, the seat number card can only be used when the passenger is having a rest and is not a substitute for the train ticket. When the conductor asks the passenger to present his train ticket, the passenger must show the ticket with the same number as the seat number card. |
| Question 10： Does the Administration give preferential treatment to overseas students when they buy tickets? |
| Answer： |
Overseas students will be given a discount of 80% on ticket fare, but they must show their passports and overseas student cards. When boarding trains, they must also show the above-mentioned documents. |
| Question 11： Why cannot I obtain seats when I buy tickets from the automatic ticket vendor? |
| Answer： |
For the convenience of our passengers and because of the consideration of promoting automatic ticket selling, automatic ticket vendors are installed to sell tickets for short-distance journeys. If you want to buy a ticket with an appointed seat number, you should go to the railway stations. |
| Question 12： What are the regulations concerning stored value cards? |
| Answer： |
I |
Stored value cards are classified into cards for 1,000NT$ and cards for 5,000NT$, to which the discount of 10% will be given. |
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II |
Notes:
(1) The use of stored value cards is limited to automatic ticket vendors and seat designation service will not be provided.
(2) All cards sold are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
(3) In case of insufficient balance, the passenger can put in coins to make up the balance.
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| Question13: |
I want to buy a ticket for train No. 1031 from Taipei to Kaohsiung and the ticket for the night train No. 1152 from Kaohsiung to Taipei. What shall I do to save money? |
| Answer： |
There are several ways to calculate prices of tickets for “Zi Qiang” trains No. 1031 and No. 1152 from Taipei to Kaohsiung. |
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I |
Buy tickets for No. 1031 and 1152 separately.
845 NT$ (original price) + 719 (discount of 15%) = 1,564 NT$ |
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II |
Buy the round-trip ticket.
761 NT$ (discount of 10%) + 761 NT$ (discount of 10%) = 1,522 NT$ |
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III |
Choose night trains for both journeys.
719NT$ (discount of 15%) + 719NT$ (discount of 15%) = 1,438NT$ |
| Question 15： I collected my ticket at the post office. Can I return it at the post office? |
| Answer： |
If your ticket is collected at the post office, you can return it at both the post office and the railway station. If the ticket is bought at the railway station, you can only return it at the railway station. |
| Question 16： Can I obtain some information about the principles for calculating ticket fares and ticket types? |
| Answer： |
Please log on to http://www.railway.gov.tw/c/c1_01.htm for detailed information. |
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