Taiwan's high speed rail operator mulling ticket price hike

Taipei, July 21 (CNA) Traveling by Taiwan's high speed train may become more expensive with its operator mulling a price increase of up to 9 percent later this year.

With a 9 percent price hike, traveling from Taipei to Kaohsiung in the south will cost NT$1,630 (US$54.4), up NT$140.

Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. is scheduled to propose the ticket price increase to its board of directors at the end of this month or early August. If passed, the proposal will be sent to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications for reference.

High speed rail ticket prices have remained unchanged since services began in 2007. The operator said it is proposing the price increase because of increased electricity rates and other costs from the addition of three more stops in Miaoli, Changhua and Yunlin.

(By Wang Shu-fen and Scully Hsiao) enditem/sc