Free and Easy Taiwan Tour Tips - Pre Book HSR Train Ticket

High Speed Rail Booking

The HSR (High Speed Rail, 台灣高鐵) train ticket booking opens 28 days in advance.  There are early bird discount (早鳥票) up to ranges from 20% to 35%.  For example, we booked our 17-Dec HSR ticket from Taipei (台北) to Taichung (台中) on 20-Nov with 35% discount (六五折).

You can book the HSR ticket online with a few simple steps:

1. Search for your train.  Look out for the traveling duration as it varies with different train even for the same From and To stations.  Goto the Taiwan High Speed Rail and use the Time Table and Fare Finder.
   
2. After you have identified your Train No.  Then you can search for the ticket price by clicking on the "Online Booking" on the same website.  For example Train No 705 comes with early bird 35% discount for adult tickets only.  There is no discount for children.
3. Choose your Train No and click next page.
4. For this example, 2 adults (35% discount) and 3 children cost only TWD2,130 compared to regular price at TWD2,670.  With this early bird discount, you have a good saving of TWD540.
5. Click through the next few pages and fill in passengers name, passport numbers and make payment using credit card.
6. Print out the booking receipt and bring along for collection of actual ticket.

High Speed Rail Ticket Collection

You can collect the ticket at any HSR train station.  Each booking can have multiple tickets and the main person's passport is to be presented at the HSR train counter with booking reference number.

HSR Train vs Chartered Car for Inter City Transfer

For some remote destinations, it could be easier to charter a car instead of relying on public transport.  For example, if you are planning a trip from Taipei to Cingjing farm and travel in a group of 4 persons, it could be better deal to charter a car instead of taking HSR train followed by bus or taxi.  

1. A chartered car cost about 5500 daily.
2. HSR Train tickets cost TWD1,980 (after 35% early bird discount) + taxi about TWD2,000.
3. HSR Train tickets cost TWD3,060 (assume no early bird discount) + taxi about TWD2,000

Chartered car is slightly more expensive option but it offers flexible schedule and stop-over.

Intra City Chartered Car

This is a nice option if you choose to stay in a city for a few days.  We met very nice drivers in Hualien, Yilan and Taichung.  These are some contact numbers if you happen to visit these cities.  Generally daily rate for intra city chartered car is range from TWD3000 to TWD3500 for 8 hours a day.

1. Hualien(花蓮) - Sam Tean(小田) 0917-207411.  Chinese and English speaking.
2. Yilan(宜蘭) - Mr Liu(劉福壽) 0933-103873.  Chinese and Taiwanese speaking.
3. Taichung() - Mr Lin(林隆泉) 0989-743972. Chinese and Taiwanese speaking.

If you need to call them from overseas, add +886 and remove the zero digit.  For example, dial +886-917-207411 for the local number 0917-207411.