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Old Posted Apr 20, 2006, 10:53 PM
laikuanchi laikuanchi is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 42
Quote:
Originally Posted by graupner
That's wonderful! How can Taiwan afford all these high-speed trains? there is enough demand for these on such a small island?
North-South InterCity transportation volume is incredibly high in Taiwan. There are already 2 N-S highways, but still traffic jam everyday.
There are currently 30+ express/semi-express trains from Taipei to Kaohsiung. (excluding the ones having terminal stops in between).
Thousands of long-distance buses.
42 one way Taipei-Kaohsiung flights
16 one way Taipei-Tainan flights
10 one way Taipei-Chiayi flights
This should give you a feel about the demand of high-speed trains in Taiwan.
THSR is estimated to run 5 minutes a train in peak hours.

As to the question of affordability, it's the world's largest BOT project, the company is also making the returns by peripheral development such as station area leasing, shopping mall building, etc... The ticket itself isn't expensive, only about 40USD from Taipei-Kaohsiung so I'm not sure how fast they can get back the money invested.
To me it's amazing that with 40USD you can travel 350km in 1hr20min. This distance is comparable to NY-BOS which costs you 100+USD on acela "express" but takes you 3hr30min. Amtrak is just too big of a monopoly sucking in the money but providing shitty service.
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