Transit Options in Taiwan

Taiwan is a relatively small island, but is also very mountainous and crowded.  Transport from city to city can be hectic, and as such there are many ways to get from point a to point b.


Rail(TRA)
Taiwan has a logical and efficient rail network.  It circles the island and hits all the major cities, and also some smaller isolated towns.  The Taiwan Railway Administration runs the trains.  There are 3 main categories of trains: limited express, express, and local.  The fastest and most expensive is the limited express which bypasses many smaller stations and offers assigned seating.  The express is virtually identical but stops at more stations.  There is also the local train, which stops at every station has no assigned seating.  There are a couple main lines in Taiwan:  The Western line, the Eastern line, and the South Link line.  There are also a couple of tourist lines: the Pingxi branch line, Jiji line, Alishan line, and Neiwan line.  The tourist lines are narrow gauge and are crowded on weekends to their scenic destinations.  The main draw of the TRA trains is that they are cheap and convenient.  Most stations are located in the center of any given city, with ample connections to buses, taxis, and subways. 


High Speed Rail
The crown jewel.  The HSR runs on the west coast of Taiwan and its 8 stations are located near the major population centers of Taiwan.  The total track length is 345km, which the trains blaze through in a mere hour and thirty minutes.  The trains consist of 12 carriages with room for 989 passengers, all traveling at a speed of 300km an hour.  The HSR is only a couple years old and its stations are very modern and filled with restaurants and gift shops.  The only gripe that I can really muster is that the stations are often very far from the actual city that the station is supposed to represent.  This simply means that you have to take a shuttle or hop in a cab and pay a bit extra to get to your final destination. 


MRT
The equivalent of a subway system, this is the most convenient form of city transit in Taiwan.  The systems are well designed with signage in English and Chinese.  The rides are cheap and fast, and let you off close to your desired destination.  The only hang up is that only Taipei and Kaohsiung have them.


Taxis
These are a complete wild card.  Some days they can be fast, cheap, and pleasant but other days they can be a horrifying experience.  Most cab drivers care only about transporting you as fast as possible.  Rides start at $100 NT  (about $3 USD) and grow more expensive as the distance grows, with every half kilometer adding $5 NT and every 5 minutes adding $5 NT  If your destination is far you can always try to negotiate a fair with the driver. 


Buses
Buses are very popular and are a cheap way to get places.  The only problem is that most drivers are not exactly compassionate for those who may be prone car sickness.  Bus stations are generally found next door to TRA stations.  For those of us who can't speak or read Chinese the schedules for the buses can really be troublesome.


Cars
Driving your own car can be a good way to get around, but also a real hassle.  Parking is always extremely limited, and you will have to resort to turning on your blinkers and parking in the road.  Parking simply put is insane here.  Most weekends you can expect a steady flow of families in their sedans heading to the surrounding day trip areas of any city.  The freeways can also pile up due to the sheer number of folks.  Streets are also narrow and can make maneuvering a little tricky.


Scooters/Motorcycles
Simply put scooters are indispensable, annoying, and dangerous.  They come in many sizes, shapes, and colors.  This is by far the most popular way of traveling short distances.  They get great fuel economy, are cheap to upkeep, and can cut through thick traffic like a hot knife through butter.  So what makes them annoying?  The fact that there are so many of them, means that they are littered on sidewalks all over Taiwan.  Another problem is that many folks drive them like idiots: driving way too fast, way too slow, or the wrong way.  Scooters are dangerous because they don't offer any protection from the large buses and trucks mashing on the roadways of Taiwan.


Airplanes
There are many domestic flights that service the island.  There is also the Taoyuan International Airport which connects to the rest of the world.  Just recently restrictions have been lifted on direct flights to cities in China, and there is non-stop service to London, Toronto, and many American cities.  Most domestic flights are aimed at the outlying islands: Penghu, Lyudao, Lanyu, Matsu, and Kinmen.


Bikes
Commuting on a bike can work in the city, but its not the most comfortable form of transit.  There are not many dedicated bike lanes, so you will be sharing your space with scooters and pedestrians.  This simple fact can make cycling a bit tiresome.


Walking
Like a cyclist, pedestrians can have a heck of a time getting around.  First and foremost, there are not many sidewalks.  If there are sidewalks, they will be covered with scooters or serve as an extension of a store.  Most of the time as a pedestrian you will have to walk in the road and swerve in and out of a maze of sidewalks, covered walkways, and alleys. 


Ferries
Since Taiwan is surrounded by water there are some ferries that operate to the outlying islands.  They take a long time and the seas can often turn rough, so flying is usually the preferred method of travel.