High speed rail to only run all-stop, non-reserved trains Monday

Taipei, July 6 (CNA) With Typhoon Danas approaching Taiwan on Sunday, Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. (THSR) announced that it would overhaul its entire train schedule Monday and run only all-stop trains with non-reserved seating (excluding business class cars).

All originally scheduled trains for Monday were canceled and replaced by three trains hourly from Nangang Station (southbound) in Taipei and Zuoying Station (northbound) in Kaohsiung, according to the announcement made Sunday night.

Departure times from both terminal stations will be at the top of the hour and 20 and 40 minutes past the hour, the company said.

To better serve passengers departing from Taichung, two additional all-stop trains with non-reserved seating (excluding business class cars) will be added at 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., one southbound and one northbound each time, for a total of four extra trains.

Also, to ensure smooth travel for passengers, THSRC said the last trains on Monday are scheduled to depart Nangang Station at 9:40 p.m. for Zuoying, and at 10:40 p.m. for Taichung.

From Zuoying Station, the last trains will depart at 9:40 p.m. for Nangang and at 10:40 p.m. for Taichung.

The company said passengers who cancel their trips due to the typhoon can request a refund without a service charge.

Those who still need to travel but whose original trains were canceled due to changes in the schedule may use their original tickets to board any available non-reserved seating train operating Monday, it said.

Taiwan's main train network other than the high-speed rail line also announced changes to its schedule for Monday.

Taiwan Railway Corp. said all reserved seat trains running up and down Taiwan's west coast on the Western Main Line and three branch lines would be suspended before noon on Monday, but all other services will operate as normal.