HiSpeedRailwatch:GreatLeapForward?

[jpatokal]

Never mind steam trains and narrow-gauge tracks, give me a Shinkansen anyday :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_High_Speed_Rail

Unfortunately the project seems bogged down in an almost Suvarnabhumian way, with the company insisting that they'll be ready for operations in October 2005 as scheduled while others note (http://www.chinapost.com.tw/i_latestdetail.asp?id=29369) that they haven't even started running tests on track and are probably 10 months behind schedule.

[von Hirschhorn]

... give me a Shinkansen ...

It seems you have to wait for that, at least your lust is near while mine disappeared but no mourning. It’s not that I hate modern things but what fails is the feeling of romantic. False or not false that’s not the question, it’s a personal matter.
Taiwan in the early nineties and non what so ever described on the link you gave in perception of modern transport MRT systems alike.
A good link anyway for facts and figures, for the feeling just go there and dream of the past. :rolleyes:

[GWR]

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/taiwan/taiwan1.html

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/taiwan/images/taiwan8.jpg

[ncr]

Maybe not too late for those local Bangkokians who are interested in attending - The SPET (Society of Professional Engineers Thailand) Monthly Members Meeting tonight has a presentation on the Taiwan HSR. I cite from the flyer they sent out:

Thursday 20th October 2005 7.00 pm at the British Club [entrance: Silom Soi 16]

TAIWAN HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECT

By Emil Siranovic

Emil has over 35 years of experience as a transportation and structural engineer in design and construction supervision of major projects worldwide including the US, Australia, the UK, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, China, Taiwan, the Philippines and Thailand. More than 21 years of his work has been on rail-related projects including 3 years as the design manager for the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) depots, 3 years as the project manager on the MRTA underground rapid transit system in Bangkok, and 5 years as the project manager on the Panchiao Extension Project, a major railway undergrounding project in Taipei. His assignments have ranged from design to project management and resident engineering, and have included design, coordination, scheduling, project management and supervision of construction.

Transit projects he has been involved with include the Baltimore, New York City, Bangkok and Manila MRTs. Railway projects include a CPR tunnel in British Columbia, the Bosporus Railway Tunnel in Istanbul, the TRA undergrounding in Taipei, the Bangkok BERTS and the Manila Clark Airbase link.

Emil has been part of three rail/transit mega projects. In Taiwan, as the project manager/design manager for provision of detailed design services for five THSR depots for maintenance and stabling of the high speed rail train fleet on this US$16 billion project; in Bangkok, as the project manager for MPMC for (MRTA) on the recently completed Initial System Project, a US$2.5 billion project; and in Taipei, as the project manager for the provision of general consultancy services to the Taipei Railway Undergrounding Project Office (TRUPO) for undergrounding of the main line railway through Taipei, a US$2 billion project that was completed in 1999.

Currently he is the Director/Design Manager for construction of two THSR Depots for maintenance and stabling of the high-speed rail train fleet, the Main Workshop at Yanchao and a Stabling Depot at Zuoying. He manages a site staff of 14 engineers in providing design support to the Resident Engineers for review of all Contractors’ submittals including construction drawings, material submittals and method statements. His team also provide design solutions to problems encountered on site as a result of varying site conditions, construction errors or changes required by various project interface parties working on the same site, and in general facilitate construction.

The lecture on THSR Project will provide an overview of this 345 km, US$15 billion mega project including the infrastructure, rolling stock and systems. It will provide the key statistics of all the elements and describe some of the challenges, illustrated along the way with a variety of photographs of different aspects of construction and some near-complete structures and systems.

The project is unique in that more than 90% of the route is comprised of tunnels, viaducts and bridges. Slab track is used almost exclusively except at some at-grade sections and the track/signaling will permit bi-directional operation. The line will be fully electrified and will use Shinkansen 700 series rolling stock with cab signaling and ATP. The alignment passes close to or through Taiwan’s main cities along the western coastal plain and includes eight stations, five with planned commercial area developments. Designed for 300 kph operation, the system will provide a 90 minute service between Taipei and Kaohsiung. With the infrastructure more than 90% complete and the systems more than 60% complete, the project is scheduled for start of operation in late 2006.

The project includes six depots comprising a major overhaul facility, inspection/stabling depots and two PW maintenance bases. The facilities are designed to initially stable thirty 12-car train sets. The Main Workshop will be equipped with the latest modern shop equipment including a 12-car train lifting system. Since the author has been primarily involved with the depots the lecture will provide some emphasis on the design, construction and planned operation of the depots.

Entrance to the function will be free to paid up members and 200 baht for all others.

[jpatokal]

Daily Yomiuri (http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/20070106TDY01003.htm):
Taiwan's new high-speed train system incorporating Shinkansen bullet train technology for the first time outside Japan started operations Friday.

With a maximum speed of 300 kph, the Taiwan High Speed Rail train covers the 345 kilometers between Taipei in the north and Kaohsiung, the second-largest city on the island in the south, in 90 minutes.

A section of the line between Taipei and neighboring city Banciao, however, will not open until February, due to a delay in construction.

The first trains left Banciao and two other stations at 7 a.m., Friday. The train will do 19 round trips a day for the time being, but more are scheduled.

Here's an editorial on the delays (http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2007/01/06/2003343625), and the Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_High_Speed_Rail) on the subject.

[Yappofloyd]

Was great to see the article on Friday about this system finally opening after all the delays and accidents in the last few years and cost over runs. However, apparently there was also delays with the intial services due to ticketing problems insofar as there were a number of duplicate tickets issued and demand was very high for the first few days of services.

It should be a great service once all the glitches are ironed out and reportedly the fare is only about US $45- which is cheap. Look forward to trying it out one day.

[jpatokal]

Back from Taiwan, where I had a chance to ride the Taiwan High Speed Rail, and man, is it slick -- looks sexy, comfy seats, airy and light inside, really smooth ride and blazing fast. All in all, probably my favorite high-speed system so far in terms of everything except raw speed (where Shanghai still gets the top spot). Service frequency could also be a little higher, but they just started running trains twice an hour, which is good enough. Blog entry at Wikitravel Extra:

http://extra.wikitravel.org/blog/jani/tall_taiwan_tales_fast_trains_ugly_towns_and_turke y_rice

And a few additional pics:

http://jpatokal.iki.fi/photo/travel/Taiwan/THSR/

[GWR]

THSRC plans to add three more stations next year
Thursday, December 6, 2007
CNA

CHANGHUA, Taiwan -- The Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. (THSRC) is working on plans to add three more stations, including one in Changhua, to its existing eight stations, a task force of the Changhua County government learned yesterday.

The task force, headed by Changhua County Magistrate Cho Po-yuan, held a meeting with THSRC executives and officials from the Bureau of Taiwan High Speed Rail under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) to discuss whether the plan might be realized at an early date to meet the county's development needs.

THSRC executives said it will complete the initial planning of the three stations in Changhua, Yunlin and Miaoli -- all in central Taiwan.

Hu Hsiang-lin, deputy director of the Bureau of Taiwan High Speed Rail, said the MOTC would like to see the three stations become operational at the same time, and that the ministry will do its best to provide assistance to the local governments.

Currently the 345-km high speed rail traversing Taiwan's western corridor has eight stations: Taipei, Banciao, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan and Zuoying. After constructing three more stations next year, the THSRC plans to build two more stations in Kaohsiung, the second largest city of Taiwan, and Nangang, an eastern suburb of Taipei in northern Taiwan.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2007/12/06/133712/THSRC%2Dplans.htm

[jpatokal]

That's one seriously misleading headline: they're planning to decided whether or not to build by next year, and if they say yea, then the stations might be ready by 2012. The Kaohsiung and Taipei (Nangang) extensions are even further off in the future.

[GWR]

Hot sales of rail tickets for Chinese New Year

Sunday, January 6, 2008
The China Post news staff

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Taiwan High-Speed Railway Corp. (THSRC) yesterday kicked off sales of tickets for the Chinese New Year holidays, with around 90 percent of tickets reserved via the online system, according THRSC officials.

The THSRC opened its online ticket reservation system at midnight, launched counter sales at 6:00 a.m. and accepted phone-call ticket reservations at 9:00 a.m. Saturday.

According to statistics released by the THSRC, the number of tickets already reserved as of 1:30 p.m. amounted to 115,000, with up to 90 percent or 102,000 tickets reserved via the Internet.

But only 10 percent of the tickets reserved were already paid via the online payment system, indicating that most people still lack confidence in the online payment system and would rather receive the reserved tickets and then pay directly at counters.

According to transportation schedules set by the THSRC, there will be a total of 1,500 trains with 1.4835 million seats offered to passengers from the Chinese New Year holidays from Feb.1-12, averaging at 126 trains per day, which are sufficient enough to meet market demands.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2008/01/06/137858/Hot%2Dsales.htm

A similar situation is also the case on Taiwan's low-speed rail lines:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=1075

Timetables & tickets online:
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/cp/transportation/

[jpatokal]

Interesting article in the Japan Times (http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080116f1.html) summarizing the railway's first year:

Taiwan's Japan-made bullet trains end first year in red — but on track

Taiwan's Japan-built high-speed trains have yet to become a cash-cow success, but neither are they the disaster critics had once predicted.

As Taiwan marked the first year of the rail system on Jan. 5, bittersweet pride surely ranks high among its founders.

The bitter sprouts from a fiscal shortfall as Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. seeks to dramatically boost ridership from the current 43,000 passengers daily to at least the break-even point.

But the sweet is just as palpable as Taiwan's first bullet trains, which traverse 345 km between Taipei and Kaohsiung at the island's southern tip, run without a hitch. ...

Boasting an impeccable safety record so far, THSR plans to increase daily trips from 113 to 176 and post profits next year, THSR Chairwoman Nita Ing said.

Already, a new ticketing policy is boosting passenger traffic.

In November, THSR added open seating, while reducing fares by 20 percent, for seats in three train cars, a policy that saw passenger traffic jump from 1.44 million passengers in October to 2 million in December. (Ed: 2 million/month means 66,000 pax/day, while the article says 43,000 earlier?)

And so popular is the policy that THSR plans to extend it indefinitely, said Ted Chia, vice president of the THSR public affairs division.

"The trend is obvious," he added. "Passengers are steadily increasing."

Still, 2 million riders monthly is a far cry from what an industry insider said is the 3.6 million passengers, each paying at least 1,000 Taiwan dollars (¥3,350), that THSR needs to start settling its debts and making a profit.

Nonetheless, "THSR expects to break even in the latter half of this year," Chia said, adding the network will run 176 daily trips by then. ...

Next year, THSR plans to break ground on a 12-km extension to the Nangang District in Taipei with operations starting in 2011.

Construction of three more stations on the current line will follow, Chia said.

"Our biggest source of target customers now are private car owners," he said. "Nearly 2 million private vehicle trips are made on Taiwan's highways. If we could draw one-tenth, or even one-eighth, of that traffic, that would be phenomenal."

I'm a little surprised by that Nangang bit there, as previous sources had indicated that it was in the far future, and all other web sources seem to just be syndicating this article. It would certainly be good news if it happens... but extending the line into central Kaohsiung (or at least getting that darn MRT finally open) should IMHO be a higher priority.

[GWR]

High-speed railway offers business class discount

Sunday, February 17, 2008
CNA

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Business class tickets for travel on Taiwan's high speed railway will be discounted by 20 percent starting March 1, an official of the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) announced.

Senior citizens, passengers under 12 and groups, who already were eligible for a 5 percent discount on business class tickets, will now enjoy a 25 percent discount for the higher class of service.

Ted Chia, assistant manager of THSRC's Public Affairs Division, said business class -- which usually occupies one of the 12 passenger cars on an average high speed train -- has had low load factors because of the short travel times, and he hoped the discount would fill up some of the many empty seats.

"There is no deadline for this offer, " Chia said. "Senior citizens can take advantage of this along with the original five percent discount to enjoy more spacious seating, making the journey more pleasant."

With the discount, the price of a one-way business class ticket for the 96 minute to two-hour trip between Taipei in the north and Zuoying in the south would fall from the original NT$2,440 (US$76) to NT$1,950 (US$59), or just NT$460 (US$14) more than the economy class fare, THSRC said in a statement.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2008/02/17/143287/High%2Dspeed%2Drailway.htm

[GWR]

Number of high-speed rail passengers tops 20 million


Sunday, March 9, 2008
CNA

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The accumulated passenger volume of the high-speed railway system breached the 20 million mark Friday, a little more than one year after the train service was launched, Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. said yesterday.

The system's passenger volume totaled 2,095,210 in February, setting a record single-month high, the company said in a statement.

The company noted that the system's passenger traffic has been increasing since trial operations began Jan. 5, 2007, topping the 5-million-mark on May 28, the 10-million-mark on Sept. 18, and the 15-million-mark on Dec. 21.

According to the company, the high-speed railway is not only the fastest land transport in Taiwan but is also the most eco-friendly. Carbon dioxide released by a high speed train averages only 0.0267 kilograms per passenger kilometer, about one-quarter of the average 0.1 kilograms released per passenger-kilometer by a small passenger car, it said.

As of March 5, the high-speed railway has totaled 4.48 billion passenger-kilometers, saving 328,460 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions if those passengers had used their cars to cover that same distance, the company said.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2008/03/09/146340/Number%2Dof.htm

[GWR]

High-speed railway offers advance booking discounts

CNA

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Taiwan High Speed Rail Co.(THSR) announced an advance ticket discount package Saturday from March 31-June 30 on all classes of train tickets between Monday and Thursday, excluding national holidays.

According to a THSR statement, from March 18, travelers booking tickets between Monday and Thursday March 31-June 30 will enjoy an additional 20 percent discount on top of the existing 20 percent discount on business class tickets and 10 percent on non reserved standard class.

The discount will bring down the price of a one-way business class Taipei-Zuoying from the original NT$2,440 (US$76) to NT$1,560, just NT$70 more than the economy class fare, THSR said in the statement.

In standard class, the price for the same trip will drop from the original NT$1,490 to NT$1,190, while for non-reserved tickets, the price will be down to NT$1,070 from the original NT$1,385.

The preferential fares will not be offered on national holidays, long holidays and special holidays, the statement said, noting that group travelers can also enjoy an additional 5 percent preferential discount during the same period.

Senior citizens and travelers aged under 12, who already enjoy preferential prices, are not entitled to the new discount.

The accumulated passenger volume of the high-speed railway system has breached the 20-million mark since it began operating last year. According to the company, the high-speed railway is not only the fastest land transport in Taiwan but is also the most eco-friendly.

Carbon dioxide released by a high-speed train averages only 0.0267 kg per passenger-kilometer, about one quarter of the average 0.1 kg released per passenger-kilometer by a small passenger car, it said.

As of March 5, the high speed railway had totaled 4.48 billion passenger-kilometers, saving 328,460 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions if those passengers had used their cars to cover the same distance, the company said.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national%20news/2008/03/16/147324/High%2Dspeed%2Drailway.htm

[GWR]

HSR passenger volume hits record new high

CNA

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Taiwan High Speed Rail system transported 132,000 passengers and operated a total of 130 trains Sunday, the last day of Taiwan's Tomb Sweeping holiday, marking two new highs, an executive of the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. (THSRC) said yesterday.

Sunday's passenger volume broke the record of 123,000 set on the eve of the traditional holiday when local people travel to their family homes to pay tribute to their ancestors and clean up their graves, the executive said.

Some 460,000 passengers traveled on the system during the four-day holiday, a figure that exceeded the volume recorded over the Chinese New Year holiday in February this year, according to the executive.

The official attributed the increased volume to the THSRC's decision to provide additional trains and some free seats, a service that drew a lot of impromptu passengers, adding that during the Chinese New Year holiday most travelers had reserved seats for planned tours.

On the last day of the Tomb Sweeping holiday, the THSRC allowed free seating on some train cars and dispatched four additional non-reserved trains to carry people from Kaohsiung to Taipei and one from Taichung to Taipei, but many passengers still had to stand all the way, the executive said.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national%20news/2008/04/08/150893/HSR%2Dpassenger.htm

[jpatokal]

The official attributed the increased volume to the THSRC's decision to provide additional trains and some free seats, a service that drew a lot of impromptu passengers, adding that during the Chinese New Year holiday most travelers had reserved seats for planned tours.
That's "free" as "you can pick your own seat and stand if there's none left", not "free" as in "no charge". Until recently, THSR trains were 100% reserved.

It's a good move though -- unreserved seats are a mite cheaper, and you can now get to your destination if you really need to even if all seats are sold out. Japan's Shinkansen have had a few unreserved carriages for ages.

[GWR]

Bullet train to welcome 23 millionth passenger

CNA

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. (THSRC) said yesterday that with passenger volume continuing to rise, it is now expecting the 23 millionth passenger, or the number of the nation's total population.

THSRC officials said that as of Thursday, the company has sold 22,873,331 high speed rail tickets, and they think that it will see the 23 millionth passenger in the next few days.

To celebrate yet another milestone in the system, the officials said they are preparing to present the 23 millionth passenger with 23 business-class tickets as well as high speed rail system memorabilia.

Since the north-south high speed rail system was inaugurated on Jan. 5, 2007, it has continued to see new records in passenger volume and revenues, officials said.

The passenger volume and revenues reached 2.31 million and NT$1.903 billion (US$62.59 million), respectively, in March, both setting records in a single month.
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=20646

[GWR]

http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=20646

Monday, April 14, 2008

Prize awaits 23 millionth high-speed rail rider

The China Post news staff

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Taiwan High-Speed Railway Corp. is actively locating the 23 millionth passenger, already recorded on Saturday, and will give over NT$60,000 worth of gifts to the lucky passenger, according to company sources.

Officials with the Taichung branch said that based on the ticket-selling records, the ticket for the 23 millionth passenger was purchased at the Tainan Station at 11:41 a.m., April 12. The ticket for an adult was valid on April 12 for trip from Tainan Station to Taichung Station. Bearing a code of 11-2-01-0-103-0365, the ticket was for a non-reserved train.

The officials called for the passenger holding the ticket with the identical data as mentioned above to contact a THSR specialist in charge, by calling 02-8725-1107 or 0935-489-722.

In order to thank the passenger for his/her patronage to the THSR, the company will give the lucky passenger 23 business-class-ticket coupons valid for a full year.

The passenger can exchange the coupons, valued at NT$56,120, for 23 business-class tickets valid for any train schedule and trip distance within the validity period.

In addition, the passenger will also be given a set of four different models of 700T trains now running on the high-seed rail system, valued at NT$6,000.

Accordingly, the total value of the gifts will come to NT$62,120. The THSR decided to give gifts to the 23 millionth passenger, mainly because the number is roughly the same as Taiwan's current population.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/%20business/2008/04/14/151765/Prize%2Dawaits.htm

[GWR]

Wednesday, May 28, 2008
THSRC breaks even for first time
Reuters

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan's bullet train broke even last month for the first time since starting service at the beginning of 2007, giving it leverage to list on the island's main stock exchange, a transportation official said Tuesday.

Due in part to a 136 percent year-on-year ridership increase last month, the train operator Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. (THSRC) posted revenues and expenditures of about NT$1.9 billion (US$62 million) each in April, said Pang Jar-hua, the transportation ministry's high-speed rail director general.

"It's the first time they've recorded break-even numbers," Pang told a news conference. "In April they didn't lose money."

The high-speed rail corporation, which runs the Japanese-style bullet trains, has said it aimed to list on Taiwan's main board in the second half of 2008 after breaking even in its first 18 months.

High Speed Rail Corp. currently trades on Taiwan's grey market, where volumes are relatively thin compared to the larger main board. Its shares were down 1.44 percent Tuesday at NT$9.56, lagging the main TAIEX index's 0.81 percent rise.

The trains run on a 345-kilometer (214-mile) route between Taipei and the southern port city of Kaohsiung. The US$15 billion bullet train system is the fastest ground-based line outside Japan, reaching speeds up to 315 km/h (196 miles/hour).

Passenger volume was an average of 85,000 trips per day, or 2.545 million total trips in April, Pang said. The company, which is adding trains as it lowers weekday prices, aims for a maximum of 145,000 trips per day by 2033.

The launch of Taiwan's High Speed Rail, which uses Japan's Shinkansen bullet train technology, has intensified competition with domestic airline routes, with Taipei-Kaohsiung airfares down to slightly below high speed rail's full fares.
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=20707

[GWR]

Saturday, May 31, 2008
THSRC to increase service; revenues lag
CNA

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. (THSRC) will offer expanded service beginning July 4, with 14 more scheduled trains per day set to come on line, CEO Ou Chin-der said yesterday at the company's annual shareholders meeting.

Beginning in July, service on peak travel days will be increased to 140 regularly scheduled trains from 126 per day, while service on off-peak days will be expanded to 128 scheduled trains from the current 114, Ou noted.

One of the focal points of the shareholders meeting was the potential impact rising fuel prices would have on THSRC's operations.

Ou acknowledged that with energy costs accounting for 15 percent of the company's total costs, the increase in fuel prices would be felt. But he contended that compared to other forms of transportation, the high-speed rail remained the most energy-efficient and was still an attractive option for travelers.

The high-speed rail has been a money loser since beginning operations in January 2007. While revenues have improved this year, company officials said more needed to be done.

THSRC Chairwoman Nita Ing noted that the railway's revenues for the first four months of 2008 stood at 52 percent of the company's revenues for all of 2007.

But while year-on-year sales had improved and ridership was up, the proportion of Taiwan's population that had used the railway remained low, she said, an indication that the company needed to improve its marketing efforts to expand its customer base.

On March 31, the high-speed rail launched a promotional campaign to improve ridership, offering substantial discounts on weekday fares, but Ou said its benefits have been limited.

Passenger volume had increased by 10 percent every month since the promotion began, but overall revenues had remained little changed compared to previous months, Ou said.

The company will study whether or not to adjust fares again after the campaign ends June 30, he added.

Ing defended her company's lagging results, saying that high speed railways around the world usually struggle in their first three years, weighed down by heavy interest burdens.

She said the company was currently restructuring its financing and noted that once the process was completed -- hopefully by the third quarter -- THSRC's interest costs would be lower and the balance sheet more promising.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/%20business/2008/05/31/158867/THSRC%2Dto.htm

[GWR]

No more Taipei-Tainan flights after July
The China Post news staff
Wednesday, July 23, 2008

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- There will be no flight service between Taipei and Tainan in southern Taiwan starting in August, leaving only the Taipei-Kaohsiung air service, officials at the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA).

The CAA approved a request from TransAsia Airways, presently the only air carrier operating the Taipei-Tainan route, to suspend flights because of the dwindling number of passengers and soaring fuel costs.

The officials said they gave the approval mainly because there are alternate choices for passengers, including the high-speed rail, the conventional railway, and bus service on the west coast of the island.

TransAsia will give refunds to customers who already booked flights for after July 31.

With the withdrawal of TransAsia from the route, Mandarin Airlines will become the only domestic air carrier flying the route linking Taipei in the north and southern Taiwan.

Mandarin, affiliate of China Airlines, currently provides two or three flights per day on the Taipei-Kaohsiung route with an occupancy rate of 60 to 70 percent.

But the air carrier will reduce to two flights a day beginning on Aug. 1.

Company executives said they will have to stop flying the route if the occupancy rate drops to below 60 percent.

While the domestic air carriers continue slashing their flights, the high-speed rail service between Taipei and Kaohsiung is enjoying spectacular growth.

Customers took 15.56 million rides aboard the bullet trains as of mid-July this year, surpassing the total number of rides for the whole year of 2007.

It takes 50 minutes and costs NT$1,450 for flights between Taipei and Kaohsiung.

It takes two hours and about the same price for the high-speed rail service.

People who are not in a hurry may take the conventional railway service offered by the state-owned Taiwan Railway Administration. It costs NT$845 and takes 4 hours and 30 minutes to travel between the two largest cities on the island.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/%20business/2008/07/23/166703/No%2Dmore.htm

[GWR]

Mandarin to cut flights to reduce loss
The China Post news staff
Friday, August 15, 2008

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Passengers may soon be denied the chance to take domestic flights along western Taiwan, as Mandarin Airlines has decided to cut the number of Taipei-Kaohsiung flights to seven, or one flight per day, from the existing 12, starting tomorrow. The firm has also applied for suspending all such flights starting Sept. 1.

Mandarin Airlines, now the only operator of the historically "golden flight route," was forced to reduce the number of flights due to its failure to survive the competition from the increasing popularity of the high-speed railway system with passengers.

..........

Hsu said the company can hardly survive if the passenger boarding rate falls under 60 percent. This, coupled with the increasing number of daily high-speed rail trains and the growing substitutability of the HSR system for flights, has made it increasingly difficult for Mandarin to sustain the Taipei-Kaohsiung flights.

..........

Meanwhile, there were as many as 520 flights taking off from and landing at the Taipei Songshan Airport in 1997, with one flight taking off from the airport for Kaohsiung every 15 minutes. The lobby of the airport used to be crowded with passengers on waiting lists.

But the improvement of land transportation systems in western Taiwan, the electrification of the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) and particularly the launch of the HSR system in January 2007 have all combined to undermine domestic flight business.

Soon after the inauguration of the HSR system, domestic airlines were forced to terminate first thei

r Taipei-Taichung flights and then the Taipei-Chiayi flights. In August this year, the Taipei-Tainan flights were also suspended.

What's worse is that Mandarin Airlines has applied to the CAA for terminating the Taipei-Kaohsiung flights to cut operating losses, starting from Sept. 1.

In a sharp contrast, the Taipei High-Speed Railway Corp. has been enjoying a rapid increase in the number of passengers since it kicked off the HSR system.

Statistics showed that from Jan. 1 to Aug. 9 this year, the average daily number of passengers taking the HSR trains stood at 90,000, sharply increasing from the corresponding figure of 30,000 seen in the initial operating months of the HSR system.

The same tallies indicated that as of Aug. 9 this year, the THSRC scored total revenue of NT$14 billion, exceeding the total annual revenue registered in 2007.

THSRC's vice president and spokesman Chia Hsien-der said that the spiraling oil prices, punctual arrival and departure of trains and availability of many options in schedules have prompted quite a few people to choose the HSR system instead of taking flights or driving on their own. This has enabled the THSRC's revenues and number of passengers to surge rapidly.

THSRC is launching a discount program to solicit more patronage. Under the program, the firm offers a 36 percent discount on ticket fares for commercial-class train seats, and 28 percent for non-reserved train seats, from every Monday to Thursday.

The firm is planning to come up with an off-peak-hour discount fare program by the end of the year, to further raise the number of passengers.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/n...andarin-to.htm

See also thread on Taiwan's dying domestic air services:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?p=22460#post22460