Premier Mao: Three new high-speed rail stations at Miaoli, Changhua and Yunlin will expand the one-day living circle of the western corridor

(Taiwan TB News Network / Reporter Chen Nianzu) After hearing the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' report on "Construction Status and Operational Preparations for the Taiwan High Speed Rail Miaoli, Changhua and Yunlin Stations" at the Executive Yuan meeting on September 24, Premier Mao Zhiguo said that with the three new high-speed rail stations at Miaoli, Changhua and Yunlin joining operations, the service scope of the high-speed rail one-day living circle will be expanded, providing the public with safe, comfortable and high-quality transportation services.

Premier Mao Zhiguo said that the Ministry of Transportation and Communications should be asked to actively handle the subsequent inspection operations and supervise Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation in properly carrying out all preparatory work before operations, so that the three stations can join operations on schedule and with quality. Premier Mao further said that after the three new stations join operations, the high-speed rail train timetable will undergo corresponding scheduling adjustments, and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications should require Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation to strengthen publicity and explanation to the public as early as possible after the scheduling adjustments are completed. Premier Mao expressed affirmation for the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation in completing the relevant operations on schedule. In addition, Premier Mao also thanked the relevant local governments for their assistance and support, which enabled the case to be promoted smoothly.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications said that Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation has submitted the adjusted timetable, and the ministry will complete the approval procedure within the next few days. Key points of the adjusted timetable include: the train stop patterns will increase from five to seven, using skip-stop stops to reduce the impact on overall passenger travel time; 964 services will run each week, an increase of ten services compared with the current level, among which 32 all-stations trains will run daily, and the travel times of the original 96-minute direct train between Taipei and Zuoying and the 120-minute train stopping at eight stations will remain unchanged.

In addition, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said that of the 11 improvement projects for connecting roads to the three new stations, eight have been completed. Also, in coordination with the high-speed rail financial reform case, the ministry has approved that starting from the day the three new stations join operations, high-speed rail fares will be reduced to the level before the price increase of October 8, 2013. Taking the fare from Taipei to Zuoying as an example, it will be reduced from the current 1,630 yuan to 1,490 yuan.