The key to the rapid transit of Taiwan Railway is not the train distance but the local people regard it as a means of transportation in the city

Five years ago, TRA established seven new commuter stations in the underground section of Kaohsiung, which is also a big step in the MRT. People often criticize that the distance between trains is not close enough to be called MRT. But more critical than the train distance is whether the local people regard the Taiwan Railway as an intra-city (rather than an inter-city) means of transportation.

Previous transportation monthly passes, such as the original MeNGo in Kaohsiung, did not include Taiwan Railway. Therefore, in terms of form, Taiwan Railway is not a means of transportation in the city. Monthly pass users will also use it within the scope. For example, maybe the Taiwan Railway Station is closer to the destination, but I, a commuter pass user, may choose to take the MRT and transfer to YouBike.

Of course, Taiwan Railway has long been a means of transportation in the city. From south to north, Taiwan Railway has 18 stations in Kaohsiung, and the routes and Kaohsiung MRT do not overlap much, just complementary.

Nearly 40 years ago, when I was studying in Xiongzhong, many students came by train. Some came from Zuoying, Nanzi, Qiaotou and Gangshan, and some came from Daliao. When school was over, a group of students walked along Jianguo Road to Kaohsiung Station, some took the train, and some (like me) took the bus.

After the opening of Sankuaicuo Station, it will be closer to Xiongzhong. Many Xiongzhong students go in and out during school hours, and I jokingly call it the Taiwan Railway Xiongzhong Station. The Zhengyi Station at the other end is similar, and the students of Fengzhong can walk along Caogongzhen.

For another example, if I want to travel from the urban area to Lianchitan, the transportation I am used to is the Taiwan Railway. I will ride YouBike to the nearest commuter station, take a shuttle bus to Zuoying Station, and cross the road after exiting the station. Or run to Zuoying in the morning on weekdays, and take the Taiwan Railway back to the city. Sometimes when I come back from a business trip by taking the high-speed rail from other places, I will have dinner with my family in Hamaxing, and I also take the shuttle bus to Gushan and then go out to the station for the light rail.

Starting from July 1 this year, the monthly tickets for the three living circles, as well as the monthly tickets for the city itself, will be included in the Taiwan Railway. It’s about building a sense of belonging. Taiwan Railway officially became part of the transportation network in the region and in the city.

Many people who used to take the MRT, light rail, buses and public bicycles as their mainstays and didn’t take the TRA now have a little more interest and motivation to explore the TRA.

Belonging is more important than class distance. The distance between many buses in the urban area is not very dense. Usually every half an hour, or even every hour. Usually, of course, I don’t really wait that long on purpose. But if the time of the bus fits well with my itinerary, and the bus is coming soon when I want to leave or leave, I will still take it.

The same is true for Taiwan Railways. If the Taiwan Railway is more convenient for the place I want to go today, I will check the train schedule. There was a bus at about the same time, so I went to take the Taiwan Railway. Otherwise, take the MRT. There are few shifts and few shifts.

Of course, I also hope that there will be more trains on the Taiwan Railway. But at this stage, I think it will be more helpful to include Taiwan Railway in the scope of monthly traffic tickets in cities and regions. Maybe the distance between trains is not dense enough, and it is not yet the ideal “MRT”, but at least it has been “urbanized”.

further reading