Two Kaohsiung underground train stations see ridership growth despite overall decline

Passenger numbers at ten underground stations along Taiwan Railways in Kaohsiung have experienced a slight decline in the first half of the year, a trend largely attributed to a recent fare increase. Despite the overall dip, two smaller stations, Meishuguan and Neiwei, have bucked the trend by showing modest growth.

The Kaohsiung railway underground project, which spans 15.37 kilometers, became operational in October 2018. It includes three rebuilt stations (Zuoying, Kaohsiung, and Fengshan) and seven newly added commuter stations: Neiwei, Meishuguan, Gushan, Sancuo, Minzu, KEPZ, and Zhengyi.

While most stations saw a slight decrease in passenger volume, with Fengshan station experiencing the largest drop of 3.5%, Meishuguan station recorded a 0.1% increase and Neiwei station saw a more significant rise of 4.6%. This growth is particularly notable given the general trend.

Taiwan Railways attributes the resilience of Meishuguan and Neiwei stations to their strategic locations. Meishuguan station benefits from its transferability with the Kaohsiung Light Rail's Meishuguan station, while Neiwei station is situated near the Meishuguan art district and the Neiwei community, attracting a steady stream of local passengers. Despite the slight decrease in passenger numbers, all ten stations reported a substantial increase in revenue, with Neiwei station leading at a 46.6% rise, followed by Meishuguan at 43.9%.