New TRA student rail pass to give access to faster trains

Taipei, July 13 (CNA) The Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) will offer a new version of its standard student rail pass starting Wednesday that will give students access to faster express trains for less money for unlimited travel over 10 days.

The new "TR-Summer Pass" will be available to students from July 15 to Sept. 15 for NT$900 (US$30) and can be used over 10 consecutive days starting from the date of purchase, said TRA official Hsu Min-chieh (許民杰).

"It's an especially good deal for people who want to travel around the island, because train fare for that kind of trip usually costs NT$2,000," Hsu said.

The TRA normally offers 5-day, 7-day and 10-day student passes (though only the 10-day pass is available to foreign students).

The standard 10-day pass normally costs NT$1,098 and only allows travel on slower trains, including the Chukuang and Fuxing express trains.

According to the TRA, the TR-Summer Pass will allow travel on the Tzechiang express train, the fastest TRA train traveling on the TRA's western line between northern and southern Taiwan, and it is available to foreign students.

Foreign nationals should present their passports and local student IDs or International Student IDs to get the pass, Hsu said.

Restrictions apply, however. As with other student passes, the TR-Summer Pass does not allow users to reserve seats, and they therefore have to stand unless they find a seat that is not taken.

They also cannot take Puyuma Express and Taroko Express trains (the fastest trains serving eastern Taiwan, which do not sell non-reserved tickets) as well as chartered and tour trains.