THSRC adds Friday trains, non-reserved seats to ease crowding

Taipei, Oct. 5 (CNA) Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. (THSRC) said Monday it will add southbound trains to Taichung during Friday evening peak hours starting Oct. 8, with all seats except those in business class available on a non-reserved basis.

THSRC said in a news release that 5 p.m.-9 p.m. on Fridays is typically a peak travel period, particularly between Taichung and Taipei, as commuters and other travelers returning home increase demand for non-reserved seating.

Demand can rise further during major holiday periods, the company said.

The announcement followed severe crowding during the four-day Mid-Autumn Festival and Teachers' Day holiday from Sept. 25-28, when some passengers with reserved seats reportedly struggled to board and passengers from non-reserved cars spilled into business-class cars.

Although it is not a Friday, THSRC said the new measure will first be implemented this Thursday, the final working day before the three-day Republic of China (Taiwan) National Day holiday.

Eight southbound trains to Taichung will be added during the four-hour, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. peak period, with two trains per hour departing from either Nangang or Taipei.

All seats except those in business class will be non-reserved.

The trains will stop at Banqiao, Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli before arriving in Taichung, THSRC said, adding that each train will have nine to 11 non-reserved cars.

A standard high-speed train consists of 12 cars, including one business-class car.

To increase capacity, THSRC said trains arriving in Taichung will return north from the same platform, allowing them to depart again within 12 minutes of arrival.

THSRC said the arrangement will also add northbound capacity and reduce waiting times for passengers using non-reserved seating.

The additional Friday services are scheduled to continue until the new N700ST trains enter service on July 1, 2027.