body{background-attachment: fixed ! important; }

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Taiwan Railway Administration Bicycle Policy (Full): Putting Your Bike On The Rails














With Lunar New Year just days away, I thought I would give my loyal readers a gift from the heart. No, not a red envelope or 7-11 booze...

Bike-Train Information!!!!

Cycling around Taiwan is often very convenient and also very rewarding. Still, one of the major gripes a cycling traveler can have here is the lack of any information in English on putting bikes on trains. There is a good reason for this. The Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) has buried a very comprehensive bicycle policy beneath mountains of rules and red tape that makes accurately understanding it almost impossible.

Nobody wants to translate it because nobody, not even the locals, can make heads or tails of it. I have even been to train stations where the person at the ticket counter and the person at the ticket gate have wildly different interpretations of the bicycle policy.

Well... here it is.

My wife and I have set out to try to make heads or tails of this policy and hopefully take some of the headache and frustration out of your next bicycle excursion where bike meets train.

This can be especially valuable in allowing people greater access to the far away places that may be too far for a day ride.

The information below may be subject to change so please check with the TRA before making reservations.

In most cases I used the Hanyu Pinyin spelling system, but I left the local spellings for major destinations. My spelling may vary from other posted spellings so stay alert.

Any guesses how long it will take before this translation makes its way to the TRA?

Have fun and ride safe!

1. Go to website: http://163.29.3.98/twrail_bicycle/bicycle/index.aspx

2. Choose 自行車種類。(Type of bicycles)

· 折疊式 Folding bikes)

· 非折疊式 Non folding bikes)

· 折疊式以及非折疊式 Folding bikes and Non Folding bikes )

· 10車以上 ( 10 or more 10 bikes)

3. Choose 起程站 (From: Choose a station you board)

4. Choose 到達站 ( To: Choose your destination)

5. Choose 乘車日期 (Date)

6. Choose 乘車時間 (Time: Choose a period time you are thinking about taking the train)

7. Choose 開始查詢(Start searching)

Understanding icons:

Trains with the following four icons offer bike on board services:


Shipping Bikes as Freight: (pick up at the station)

The service is available to both folding bike and non folding bikes.

Also Check Out:




Rules For Carrying Non-folding Bikes on Trains:

1. Due to the limited space, the number of bikes is limited. Make sure to make a reservation in advance.

2.In the limited trains that allow bikes on board, only certain stations allow bikes to get on and off. Some stations do not allow bikes to get on.

3. The TRA is not responsible for the safety of the bike. Bike owners are responsible if the bike is lost or damaged.




Shared Bike & Passenger Trains

Additional Information: On Bike & Passenger Together Trains, bike owners can be seated in the car where the bikes are parked in racks. At the time being, there are only two trains daily that provide this service, which are No. 274 & No. 275 Chu-Kuang Trains. Each train offers 15 seats for cyclists and 15 spaces for bicycles.


How to book tickets for Bike & Passenger Trains:


1. Go to the TRA website: http://railway.hinet.net/ , and book online. Reservations can be made 12 days before departure.


2. Bicycle and passenger tickets must be purchased together. (No. 274 & 275 Chu-Kuang Trains )

3. Once reservation is made, you must go to train stations with computer ticketing services to get your tickets. Tell the people at the counter what kind of tickets you are purchasing: adult, child, senior citizen, or charity (disadvantaged person). The staff at the counter will sell you tickets according to your reservation. No. 274 & 275 Chu-Kuang Trains can be reserved online but cannot be paid online. The reserved tickets cannot be purchased at post offices or automatic ticket vending machines.


4. Processing fee for refunding tickets of No. 274 & 275 Chu-Kuang Trains is 26 dollars. Each passenger 13 dollars, each bike 13 dollars)

5. No. 274 & 275 Chu-Kuang Trains run Friday through Monday.


Additional Information


1. Taipei Train Station does not permit un-bagged bikes to get on and off trains. Therefore, tickets for No. 274 & 275 Chu-Kuang Trains taking off from Taipei station are not available for sale.

2. Because some station lack relevant equipments to allow bikes to come in or out of the station. If you need additional help to guide you through the station, please call TRA’s customer service number: 0800-765-888(landline phone only), 02-23702727.


3. If you are traveling with a group of other riders, you can apply for an additional car. Each car needs to have at least 15 passengers and 15 bikes, the fee for the car is calculated with the base estimate of 100 kms. The authority to grant the application is entirely up to the TRA, which will make it’s judgment based on the availability of trains and the availability of stations that allow bikes to enter and leave stations.


Information about Taipei Route:

Stations that allow bikes to get on and off trains:

基隆 Keelung、八堵 Badu、七堵 Xidu、汐止 Xizhi、南港 Nangang、松山 Songshan、萬華、Banciao、Shulin、鶯歌 Yingge、桃園 Taoyuan、中壢 Zhongli、埔心 Puxin、楊梅 Yangmei、富岡 Fugang、湖口 Hukou、新豐 Xinfu、竹北 Zhubei、新竹 Xinzhu。

Trains that allow bikes to get on and off trains in the Taipei route:



Information about Taichung Route:

Stations that allow bikes to get on and off trains:

竹南 Zhunan、【mountain route:苗栗 Miaoli、銅鑼 Tongluo、三義 Sanyi、后里 Houli、豐原 Fengyuan、潭子 Tanzi、臺中 Taiching、新烏日 Xin Wuer】、彰化 Changhua、員林 Yuanlin、社頭 Shetou、田中 Tianzhong、二水 Ershui、【ocean route:後龍 Houlong、白沙屯 Baishatun、通霄 Tongxiao、苑裡 Yuanli、大甲 Tachia、清水 Chingshui、沙鹿 Shalu】。

Trains that allow bikes to get on and off trains in the Taichung route:




Information about Kaohsiung Route:

Stations that allow bikes to get on and off trains:

林內 Linnei、斗六 Douliu、斗南 Dounan、大林 Dalin、民雄 Minxiong、嘉義 Chiayi、新營 Xinying、隆田 Longtian、善化 Shanhua、新市 Xinshe、永康 Yongkang、臺南 TainanBaoan、中洲 Zhongzhou、大湖 Dahu、路竹 Luzhu、岡山 Gangshan、橋頭 Qiaotou、楠梓 Nanzi、新左營高雄 Xinzuoying-Kaohsiung、鳳山 Fengshan、九曲堂 Jiucitang、屏東 Pingtung、潮州 Chaozhou、南州 Nanzhou、林邊 Linbian、枋寮 Fangliao

Trains that allow bikes to get on and off trains in the Kaosung route:



Information about Ilan Route:

Stations that allow bikes to get on and off trains:

瑞芳 Ruifamg、雙溪 Shuangxi、福隆 Fulong、頭城 Toucheng、礁溪 Jiaoxi、宜蘭 Iilan、羅東 Luodong、冬山 Dongshan、蘇澳新 New Suao Station、蘇澳 Suao、東澳 Dongao、南澳 Nanao

Trains that allow bikes to get on and off trains in the Ilan route:



Information about Hualien Route:

Stations that allow bikes to get on and off trains:

和平 Heping、新城 Xincheng、花蓮 Hualien、吉安 Ji-an、壽豐 Shoufeng、鳳林 Fenglin、光復 Guanghou、瑞穗 Ruisui、玉里 Yuli、池上 Chishang、關山 Guanshan、臺東 Taidong、知本 Zhiben、太麻里 Taimali

Trains that allow bikes to get on and off trains in the Hualien route:



Rules For Carrying Folding Bikes On Trains:

1. 須完全置入攜車袋,車子無裸露。

You need to put the whole bike in a bag. No parts of the bike can be exposed.

2. 不另行收費。

There is no surcharge for folding bikes.

3. 區間車、區間快、普快車(以車不離身方式攜帶)。

Folding bikes are allowed on all local trains.

4. PP自強號(限置放於第12車自行車置放區,不得隨身攜帶)。另自行車置放區容量有限,放滿為止。

Folding bikes are allowed on the Chu-Kuang Class Express Train (only the PP trains), but the bikes must be placed in the special bike storage area in Car 12. Due to the limited space, the number of bikes is limited. You must make a reservation first.

5. DMU自強號、莒光號、復興號(放置車廂中不影響動線之適當空間)。逢連續假期疏運期間,另行公告暫停開放。

Folding bikes are allowed on the Tsu-Chiang Class Express ( DMU trains), Chu-Kuang Class Express Trains, Fu Hsing trains. However, policies for fold up bikes are subject to change during holidays. Please check with the TRA website.

6. 進入剪票處前須先將自行車置入攜車袋,出收票處前不得將自行車自攜車袋取出

Bikes must be placed in a bike bag before passing the ticket gate. After getting off train, bikes are not allowed to be taken out of the bag before leaving the station.

7.搭乘非開放車種或未依規定攜帶,將以「1輛自行車比照1名全票旅客」方式補收搭乘區間全額票價。

If bikes are allowed on the trains that have yet to be specified for bicycles, bike owners will be required to pay full passenger fares for each bike and for the distance the bike travels.

8.需自負自行車保管責任。並請隨時注意其他旅客進出車廂,禮讓進出動線,以免妨礙其他旅客。

Bike owners need to be responsible for the bike’s safety. Please be cautious with passengers getting on and off trains. Yield when passengers need to get off trains. Avoid disturbing other passengers.


Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) Bicycle Policy:

Taiwan High Speed Rail Website

All HSR trains allow bikes on board, as long as the bike is bagged and not longer than 150 cm, and the total length of its height and width should not be over 220 cm. The weight of the bike should not be heavier than 40 kg. The bagged bicycles should be stowed in the forward or aft luggage compartment.

Taiwan in Cycles recommends purchasing the more expensive Business Class tickets as there is more space behind the rear seats to store a bike without having to worry about the bike getting crushed by luggage.


Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT):



The Taipei MRT allows unlimited access for folding bikes and bagged bikes. Unbagged bicycles have limited access to the MRT on weekends and holidays (though Taiwan In Cycles does not recommend going through the hassle). Access on weekends is available at 67 stations:

High-capacity lines will be closed to bicycles, including: Tamsui Station, Shipai Station, Jiantan Station, Taipei Main Station, National Taiwan University Hospital Station, Guting Station, Zhongxiao-Fuxing Station, Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Station and Fu Jen University Station. All stations on the medium-capacity Wenshan-Neihu Line will also be closed to bicycles.

Unbagged bikes will be charged an additional NT80. All ticket purchases must be made at the ticket counter. Unbagged bicycles are restricted to the first and last cars on the MRT train. Only 2 bicycles per train car. One bicycle per person (Yes, that is a written rule). Tickets can be purchased at the MRT stations’ information booths. The bicycle’s dimensions should not exceed 180x120x70cm.

Bicycles can only be brought aboard either the first or the last train compartments. No more than two bikes can be placed next to a given entry point on these train compartments, and bicycles cannot be parked on the space designated for disabled passengers. Folding bikes can be treated as carry-on luggage.



Kaohsiung Rapid Transit (KRT) Bicycle Policy:

KRT Website

All folding bikes are allowed. Bicycle dimensions must be under 205cm with wheels under 20". Bikes that fit this description may ride for no extra charge. All bicycles must use ramps or elevators.

Bagged bikes are also unrestricted.

Non-folding bikes must be under 120cm tall and no longer than 180cm in length and no wider than 70cm. Non-folding bikes may take trains Monday through Friday between 10:00am to 4:00pm. On holidays bikes are allowed between 6:00am and 1:00pm and also 7:00pm to 11:00pm.

The total fare for rider and bicycle is NT100 with unlimited distance. All bikes must be stored in the first four cars as pictured below. Each car allows one bicycle. All bikes must be situated next to the pole.

All tickets must be purchased at the ticket counter.











Bike Transport On Busses:

http://blog.yam.com/ken0968/article/10295073

Bikes can also take 國光號 (Guoguang Bus). Folding bikes are free, and non folding bikes are half price. If you are traveling with a folding bike, just notify the bus driver in advance. If you are traveling with a non folding bike. Make sure it is not taller than 100 cm. Also, the bus company is not responsible for the safety or damage of your bike during the bus ride.


Now nobody can say I have never done anything for Taiwan. Happy riding!

36 comments:

  1. That is an EPIC post Drew. Awesome job.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks! It was a crazy bunch of work. My wife did an awesome job with her translation.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for posting this! It should be of great use to lots of people.

    Tim Maddog

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amazing work! Thanks to the hard workers on this one!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I should have broke my bike sooner... look how productive I've become! A few good articles in my down time.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow. Wow, wow, wow. Thanks so much for this, to you and your wife.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Our pleasure! This is info that, sadly, has not been available in English... and really needs to be. I hope lots of people will find this very useful.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for this information. Me and my family were contemplating to buy folding bikes for ourselves when we go to Taiwan this summer.
    If we can find them in Taipei we will have to bring them along on the train.

    Thanks again.

    ReplyDelete
  9. @Jacco

    That might be a great idea for light urban touring. I believe in Kaohsiung there are folding bikes to rent at the KRT station.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Outstanding, simply outstanding. This web page saved my butt in a complicated work-related pickle, and I thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  11. hi,

    thanks for this post, but I still cannot seem to figure out if I can take my bicycle from Checheng station (Nantou) to Minsyon/Minxiong station (Chiayi). Would someone be so kind to check that for me? I would travel somewhere during daytime, between November 1 and 5, or should I be more specific?

    thank you!
    Jeff.

    ReplyDelete
  12. There are no trains going directly from Checheng station (Nantou) to Minsyon/Minxiong station (Chiayi). That means you have to take a train from Checheng station to Changhua first. Then transfer from Changhua Minxiong station.


    You can take your bike on all trains going from Checheng to Minxiong. But from Changhua to Minxiong, you can only take a bike on certain trains.

    You can take slow train taking off from Checheng at 10:16. Arriving Changhua at 11:45.

    自強117 is the one that allows bikes on board and you can take that one.
    The train leaves 彰化 at 12:33, arriving Minxiong at 13:22.

    區間快
    2708 - 車埕->彰化 10:16 11:45 01小時29分
    每日行駛。


    自強
    117 山 七堵->屏東 12:33 13:22 00小時49分
    每日行駛。

    Here is a web site to check time table for trains:
    The Chinese one is better. The English one is a piece of shit..
    http://twtraffic.tra.gov.tw/twrail/index.aspx

    ReplyDelete
  13. thanks Andrew, for your fast answer :)

    Should I really go all the way to Changhua? On the map it seems like the two lines come together at Ershui station, couldn't I transfer there to Minxiong?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for the post, very useful information. I'm trying to book a ticket from Songshan in Taipei to Fulong and noticed that as of Oct 18th train no 275 (south bound) has been changed to no 72 and 274 (north bound) has been changed to 72.

    If the online booking site returns an error "no such train" or something equivalent, that could be why.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I just made a booking for Shongshan to Fulong on train 72 (passenger & bike in the same car), using this web site:

    http://163.29.3.98/twrail_bicycle/bicycle/index.aspx

    Worked very well and the order went through without trouble.

    Thanks for pointing me in the right direction with your post, greatly appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great to hear everything went well.

    Are you THE Kram?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Not that I know of :) it's just a name I use online from time to time.

    ReplyDelete
  18. As a taiwanese and a cycling enthusiast, I really think it is not convenient to put a bike on rail, but there is still lots of people like it(because often some them share their experiece on cycling forum like mobile01), but I recommand a convenient way to take your bike to宜蘭 without taking the bike apart, and bike bag is not needed, too. At MRT市政府,a freeway bus service called 首都客運,$120 dollars to take you and your bike to 宜蘭 without taking any part of the bike apart, no need to remove the wheel from your bike frame, no need to pack your bike with a big bike bag.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi there! Before I get in trouble I guess it's best to ask first: All the official signs and labels say "bagged bike". Does that also apply when I bring the (non-foldable) bicycle into the train car which is specifically for bicycles? (aka the orange symbol) Cause I definitly don't have anything I can put the bike into.

    ReplyDelete
  20. You need to remove one wheel minimum and cover the bike. A 7-11 raincoat will work in a pinch.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Awesome post. Thanks! We didn't have any trouble taking our unbagged bike on a fast local train on the east coast.

    ReplyDelete
  22. This is great / terrifying for someone about to come and hoping to skip riding out of Taipei itself. I'm sure this is written somewhere, but I haven't managed to find it yet: where did you get the bike bag? It looks super light, which would be good, as I am then going to have to carry it on tour! I see Amanda and Rob just didn't worry about getting one - also a tempting option, but not without risk! Thank you for your advice and all this extremely helpful information.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Eleanor,

    I bought my bag through:
    http://www.wannamove.com.tw/?Pager=ProductShow.asp&ProductID=10000

    It is really quite good.
    It has Velcro straps to attach to the frame.
    You must take both wheels off, but it breaks he bike down smaller. It is quite easy to take on public transportation.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Ohhhh... I had been hoping you got it in a shop! I asked at Giant (Taipei, Nanjing branch) when I picked up the bike, but they hadn't a clue where to get any kind of bag. I ended up sitting at Songshan station for nearly two hours until there was a train I was allowed in with an unbagged bike. Due to the current lovely weather, I'm changing my plan of riding from Jiaoxi to Lishan tomorrow and then over into Taroko. I think it'll just be too cold at >2000m. Which leaves me wanting to get to Hualien, without riding that stretch of road from Yilan. I think someone mentioned using a plastic raincoat as a bike bag? Maybe worth trying?!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Ah. In fact, I just read again and saw that it was in this thread you mentioned the 7-11 raincoat approach!

    (My Taiwanese friend told me that I would soon realise the 7-11 is a cornerstone of life here eg sending my other luggage ahead. I went in today and asked for 2 plastic bags as makeshift waterproof booties and they offered me real plastic booties. I'm sure they thought I was mad when I hacked holes in the bottom of them with a Swiss Army knife, but they were not cleat-compatible otherwise :) )

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks for posting! I am planning to ride the East Coast. If you use a bus to travel, do you need to box or bag your bike?

    Thanks, Matt

    ReplyDelete
  27. The minimum requirement is that you remove the front and rear wheel and have the bike nominally covered (raincoats make great bike bags). Some busses will let you just throw the bike on, but they will not accept any liability for damage.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Awesome info! Thank you for taking the time and trouble. I have a Weanus bike bag, so I think I'll be ok most of the time. If you can advise on the following, I'd appreciate it: train from Taichung to Kaohsiung; plane to Penghu; bus or just road bike to Kenting; bus or road bike to Taitung; ferry or plane to Green or Orchid Island -- what should I do if I have a regular road bike in a bike bag, and panniers?

    ReplyDelete
  29. If you can get to Orchid Island, that would be a great trip.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Really fantastic that you took the trouble /time to post this info ,I'm considering going north to south with a tern folding bike .
    Here in japan we can cycle till we are tired , then just fold up and on the train back home .In taiwan ,maybe fold up and go to the next town where there is a hotel/ hostel.70 kilometers is about enough for me in a day ,I' getting old :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Great effort, thanks... only that when I started with the reservation website, the very first drop-down menu has been changed. Sure, it's been a while from your initial post. Still, I've no clue what to choose.

    I'd just need a way to travel from Taipei to Hualien on 19th Oct (morning), and back on 21st Oct (morning). Train, bus, whichever. If anyone has advice, please share :)

    ReplyDelete