Comparison of Trains in Taiwan

Updated March 2020, amid the collapse of the tourism industry due to COVID-19.

	High Speed Rail (HSR)	Taroko Express & Puyuma Express	Tze-Chiang (Express)	Chu Kuang Express	Local Train
Chinese	台灣高鐵	太魯閣號	自強號	莒光號	區間車
Photo
Where they Operate	West Coast (Taipei – Kaohsiung)	Taipei to Hualien. Limited stops.	All around Taiwan. Stops at most common stations.		All around Taiwan. Stop at all stations.
Speed	Fastest transport in Taiwan.	Fastest (non-HSR) train.	Fastest regular train.	In between Tze-Chiang and Local.	Slowest train, but some much slower than others.
Price	Expensive.	Most expensive tickets after HSR. Taroko Express is the same price as Tze-Chiang.			Cheapest. A third to half HSR price, but about three times as long.
Comfort	Lik aeroplane (economy). Max 2 hours. Business class available.	Very comfortable.	Comfortable IF you have reserved seats.		Most comfortable train journey without reserved seats.
Non-reserved / standing tickets?	Non-reserved available (~3% cheaper)	All seats reserved and often sell out.	Non-reserved “standing tickets” sold but very uncomfortable. Reserve ahead of time.		All seats non-reserved. Generally quiet outside main city centres.
Rec'd For	Taipei - Kaohsiung	Taipei – Hualien. Book in advance.	Most intercity transport if you can book in advance.	Intercity transport if you can't get a Tze-chiang ticket.	Short trip. Trips between small towns where other trains don't stop. You have plenty of time: - no reservation - tighter budget