The state-run Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to raise its ticket prices by between 11 and 27 percent.
Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Allen Hu (胡湘麟) on Saturday said that the proposed fare hikes need to be discussed by a review committee, but a meeting date has not been set.
With its fares frozen for 28 years since 1995, the TRA proposed raising its ticket prices, which would generate a 1 percent profit for the longtime loss-making train operator.
Photo: Cheng Wei-chi, Taipei Times
Under the proposal, tickets for Tze-Chiang express trains would increase 11 percent, while fares for Chu-Kuang express trains would rise 15 percent and tickets for local trains would increase 27 percent.
Under the new prices, the fare from Taipei to Kaohsiung would increase from NT$843 to NT$940 on a Tze-Chiang train, while the cost would rise from NT$114 to NT$145 for a local train from Taipei to Hsinchu.
Former transportation minister Ho Chen-tan (賀陳旦) said that increases do not have to apply to all passengers, but only for certain users, similar to how Taiwan Power Co charges different rates for household and industrial users.
Lee Ker-tsung (李克聰), a transportation technology and management expert with the Consumers’ Foundation, said the TRA could increase fares only for certain lines, such as sightseeing and busy commuter routes.
Minister of Transportation and Communications Wang Kuo-tsai (王國材) yesterday said that as the TRA is still in the corporatization process, ticket prices would not change before the end of the year.
The fare adjustment would also need to be approved by the new board of directors at that time, before discussions could be held by the ministry, he said.
Taiwan last night blanked world No. 1 Japan 4-0 to win the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time. Taiwanese ace Lin Yu-min (林昱珉) held defending champions Japan to just one hit and no runs in the first four innings, before catcher Lin Chia-cheng (林家正) opened the fifth inning with a solo home run. That was soon followed by a three-run homer from Taiwanese captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) to put Taiwan ahead in the prestigious tournament of the world’s top 12 baseball teams. In addition to a superb performance from 21-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Lin, three more Taiwanese pitchers
Taiwan yesterday advanced to the gold medal match of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time in history, despite last night losing 9-6 to Japan. Taiwan advanced after the US defeated Venezuela in the first game on the last day of the Super Round. However, the US had no chance of advancing to the championship game unless it defeated Venezuela by at least nine points. The US won 6-5. As a result, the two teams — who both had one win and two losses in the Super Round — are to face off again in the
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world’s biggest contract chipmaker, yesterday held an equipment installation ceremony for its first 2-nanometer fab in Kaohsiung, six months ahead of schedule, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said. “To cope with the strong global demand for advanced chips, TSMC is to start moving in equipment for its first-ever 2-nanometer fab half a year earlier than scheduled,” Chen said at an question-and-answer session at the Kaohsiung City Council. TSMC’s 2-nanometer process technology would help accelerate the development of artificial intelligence (AI) applications as well as the transformation of local industries in Kaohsiung, Chen said in a
TEAM TAIWAN: While lawmakers proposed declaring Nov. 24 a national day, the CPBL commissioner urged the legislature to pass the budget for sports development Lawmakers yesterday proposed designating Nov. 24 as National Baseball Day and updating the design of the NT$500 bill to honor the national team’s victory in the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s Premier12 championship on Sunday, as thousands of fans came out to see the players parade down the streets of Taipei. Players, coaches and staff from the national team returned home on Monday night after achieving their best-ever performance in an international baseball tournament. After receiving a rapturous welcome at the airport, the players turned out yesterday for a street parade in front of thousands of adoring fans waving Taiwanese flags and
RSS