Harvard Express trial run: pilgrims its biggest fans

(Taiwan Business News) The Transportation Bureau of the Kaohsiung City Government has newly launched the "Harvard Express," offering free trial rides to the public from June 27 to June 30. On the first two days of free trial rides, June 27 and 28, nearly every trip was full, carrying close to 2,000 passengers, and public response was enthusiastic.

The "Harvard Express" will officially begin operation on July 1 this year, and the Transportation Bureau offered free trial rides to the public from June 27 to June 30. According to statistics, the Kaohsiung Bus coach operating this route can carry 44 passengers, and on the first two days of free trial rides, June 27 and 28, the average number of passengers was 35 to 40. On the 27th, children from a disability group rode the Harvard Express together to visit the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and pay their respects to the Buddha.

On the 28th, several overseas tourists came to ride it after hearing about it. Backpackers from Japan and the mainland gave a thumbs-up to this free trial ride measure, saying that offering free trial rides to the public before a new route opens is very creative. The launch of the Harvard Express effectively shortens the travel time for city residents and domestic and international tourists using public transport to reach the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum in Kaohsiung.

To cope with the large crowds of riders, Kaohsiung Bus, although it runs 30 trips on holidays between the high-speed rail station and the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, still flexibly added extra trips on the morning of the 28th to accommodate riders, and service staff were also on site handing out DM leaflets to promote measures related to the "Harvard Express."

The "Harvard Express" runs from HSR Zuoying Station via Dazhong Road, National Highway No. 10, and exits at Lingkou Interchange to connect to Provincial Highway 21, the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, and Fo Guang Shan. The one-way distance is 32 km and the travel time is about 30 minutes.

The "Harvard Express" will become an international religious tourism public transport route. The number of visitors to Fo Guang Shan each year is in the millions, and it is also an important religious and sightseeing leisure spot in Kaohsiung. The operation of this route can provide comprehensive bus services and create a high-quality tourism and leisure transport environment for Kaohsiung.