From Skylines to Sea Cliffs: Taiwan on the Tracks

Mark Beales
•5 min read

Travelling through Taiwan by train is both efficient and deeply rewarding. Whether you’re speeding south on the high-speed rail at up to 300 km/h or taking a slower route past Taitung’s rice paddies, Hualien’s rugged cliffs, and the Pacific coastline, the journey is as memorable as the destination. Taiwan’s rail network is compact yet exceptionally well connected, linking major cities and smaller towns with ease and making it simple to explore the island.

For travellers familiar with Japan or South Korea, Taiwan’s trains feel reassuringly familiar, shaped by shared influences in design and culture, but with a more relaxed, approachable character. While Japan’s Shinkansen is renowned for its precision and punctuality, and Korea’s KTX for its speed and efficiency, Taiwan sits comfortably between the two: reliable, clean, and easy to navigate, yet with a little more spontaneity and scenic appeal. It is a system that does more than get you from A to B; it encourages you to slow down, look out the window, and watch the island unfold in real time.

The Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) – the fastest and most comfortable way to travel between the island’s major cities. This modern network links Taipei and Kaohsiung in under two hours, making it ideal for covering long distances efficiently without sacrificing comfort. Sleek, spacious, and easy to navigate, the THSR offers frequent departures and a smooth ride, turning cross-island travel into a quick and stress-free experience.

Taiwan Railways (TRA) – the island’s wider rail network, offering everything from fast express services such as the Tze-Chiang to slower local trains that stop in smaller towns and rural communities. It is essential for journeys beyond the high-speed corridor, particularly along the scenic east coast and into the island’s more remote southern reaches. For travellers looking to explore at a slower pace or reach places the THSR does not serve, the TRA is both practical and richly rewarding.

Metro (MRT) – like most major Asian cities, Taipei and Kaohsiung boast clean, efficient, and easy-to-use metro systems, perfect for everyday sightseeing and short urban journeys. A rechargeable EasyCard keeps things seamless, allowing travellers to tap in and out without needing to buy individual tickets. Together, the MRT and EasyCard make getting around Taiwan’s cities simple and stress-free.

Our Favourite Rail Journeys in Taiwan:

  • Alishan Forest Railway – climb high into the mountains on a narrow-gauge railway famous for its zigzags and spirals, winding through mist-draped forests, ancient cedars, and ever-changing alpine scenery.
  • Pingxi Railway – follow a nostalgic branch line deep into lush river valleys, where lantern-lit towns, quiet stations, and jungle-fringed waterfalls feel a world away from the city.
  • East Coast Trunk Line – trace Taiwan’s wild eastern edge, where tracks cling to cliffs above the Pacific, revealing sweeping ocean views, remote villages, and some of the island’s most dramatic landscapes.
  • South-Link Line – venture across the island’s untamed south, a quieter and lesser-travelled route where mountains, tropical plains, and rugged coastline collide in a journey that feels truly off the beaten path.