Taiwan Railway Bureau defends Yilan high-speed rail plan against cost, congestion claims

Taiwan's High-Speed Rail (HSR) extension to Yilan has drawn criticism from opponents who cite concerns over its potential NT$600 billion cost, its inability to alleviate congestion on the Suhua Highway, and its perceived negative impact on existing rail services. However, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Railway Bureau has strongly refuted these claims, emphasizing the project's adherence to facts and professional engineering standards.

Chen Hui-chun, deputy director of the Railway Bureau, clarified that the total budget for the HSR extension to Yilan is NT$352.175 billion (or NT$220 billion for the direct rail option). This figure was calculated by professional engineering consultants according to official guidelines and has been reviewed by relevant government bodies. Chen noted that the cost per kilometer, approximately NT$6 billion, is comparable to other recent rail projects in Taiwan, such as the MRT Xinyi Line East Extension and the Wanda Line, which range from NT$6.6 billion to NT$7.8 billion per kilometer.

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The high-speed rail extension to Yilan is not solely aimed at solving traffic jams but also at enhancing national transportation resilience and addressing long-standing capacity bottlenecks on the existing rail lines connecting Taipei and eastern Taiwan.

The bureau projects that the HSR extension will divert 15% to 17% of the car traffic on National Freeway 5 during peak and off-peak hours. Even after accounting for induced traffic, the net reduction in car usage is expected to be between 3% and 6%, offering a significant improvement in travel options. The project is not solely aimed at solving traffic jams but also at enhancing national transportation resilience and addressing long-standing capacity bottlenecks on the existing rail lines connecting Taipei and eastern Taiwan.

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The high-speed rail and Taiwan Railways are complementary systems.

Contrary to claims of competition, the Railway Bureau stated that the HSR and Taiwan Railways (TRA) are complementary systems. The HSR will handle medium to long-distance intercity travel between Taipei and Yilan, freeing up TRA's capacity for local commuter and freight services. The bureau pointed to the successful coexistence of the HSR and TRA on the western line over the past two decades, during which TRA's overall volume increased by 40% and revenue by 64%. The government has also invested heavily in TRA, with over NT$363.5 billion allocated to its improvement and ongoing projects totaling approximately NT$824.1 billion.

Regarding the "4-minute 90-minute island-wide high-speed rail network" framing, the bureau stated it is baseless. This policy direction was outlined in the 2020 "Transportation Policy White Paper" and has guided the gradual implementation of key projects to build efficient rail corridors. The HSR extension to Yilan is presented as a crucial component for improving cross-strait transportation, promoting balanced regional development, and strengthening national resilience, working in tandem with ongoing TRA improvements to create a safer, more efficient, and sustainable rail network.

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The high-speed rail extension to Yilan is not only an important construction project to improve Taipei-Yilan transportation, but also a key link to improve the national railway network, enhance eastern transportation, promote balanced regional development, and strengthen national transportation resilience.