[Taiwan Travel Info] How to Book the THSR Rail Pass (2/3/5-Day Pass)

Mandu

2 months ago

Hello!
Today, I’d like to share a post about the Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR) Pass.

Taiwan isn’t as large as you might think, which makes it possible to travel between cities within a single day.
For those planning to explore cities other than Taipei, the high-speed rail can be a great option, especially if direct flights to other cities are expensive or have inconvenient schedules.

When Should You Consider Using the High-Speed Rail?

If you want to visit cities other than Taipei.
If you plan to travel to multiple cities within a short period (2/3/5 days).
If direct flight prices or schedules don’t align with your plans.

In my case, I traveled with my companion, Sen Unnie, entering Taiwan through Taipei and planning a trip to Tainan, a southern city. The high-speed rail pass was incredibly useful for our itinerary.
With our short three-day trip, the pass was much more cost-effective than purchasing two one-way tickets.

I pre-purchased the pass in Korea, and we activated it upon arriving at Taipei Station.

Let me now introduce the different types of THSR passes, how to reserve them, and how to make the most of them!

Types of THSR Taiwan Rail Passes

The Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR) is similar to Korea’s KTX. Additionally, Taiwan has standard train options, but the THSR is the high-speed rail system.

There are four main types of Taiwan Rail Passes:

3-Day Pass
- Unlimited high-speed rail travel for three consecutive days.
Flexible 2-Day Pass
- Unlimited high-speed rail travel on any two days within a seven-day period after activation.
5-Day Standard/Premium Joint Pass
- Unlimited standard train travel for five days.
- Unlimited high-speed rail travel on any two of those five days.
- Standard vs. Premium: The Premium pass allows access to specific train lines like the Tze-Chiang Limited Express, EMU3000 series, Taroko Express, and Puyuma Express.

Important Notes

When planning your trip, keep this in mind to choose the most suitable pass for your schedule!

The pass is based on calendar dates in Taiwan’s time zone, resetting at midnight (not based on the time of activation).

How to Reserve the THSR Pass Online

Visit the official THSR website: https://en.thsrc.com.tw/

On the main page, click on the section labeled “THSR Pass.”

From there, choose the pass you want, click “BUY,” and proceed to payment.

During the reservation, you’ll need to provide details like your passport number and nationality, so have your passport ready.
Once the reservation is complete, note your booking code for collection.

How to Collect and Use the Taiwan Rail Pass

After purchasing the pass online, you’ll need to collect the physical pass in Taiwan to use it. Prepare the following:

Reservation code
Original passport (copies or scans won’t be accepted).

You can collect your pass at the ticket counters at any THSR station. In our case, we collected it at the Taipei Station counter.

Once collected, you’ll receive a pass booklet.

By default, the pass is for non-reserved seating, but you can reserve seats either at the counter or online. Reservations can be made up to one hour before departure if seats are available.

When boarding and exiting trains, show your pass and passport to the station staff at the gate. They will verify your information and allow you to pass.
(Note: Always keep your passport with you!)