TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) announced on Thursday (June 8) that the much-anticipated regional public transportation passes will be up for sale starting June 15, ahead of their official launch on July 1.
Dubbed "TPASS," the monthly passes are categorized into three types, catering to Taiwan's northern, central, and southern regions. The "northern pass" encompasses the cities of Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan. The "central pass" covers Taichung City and Miaoli, Nantou, and Changhua counties. The "southern pass" includes Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung County.
With the TPASS, you can enjoy unlimited access to various transportation modes, including local buses, metro systems, light rail trains, railroads, intercity buses, bicycle-sharing services, and even ferries in southern Taiwan.
Pricing for the new passes varies across regions. The "northern Taiwan" pass is priced at NT＄1,200, while Taichung residents can avail themselves of the "central Taiwan" pass for NT＄699. Non-Taichung residents in the central region can purchase the pass for NT＄999. The "southern Taiwan" pass is available for NT＄999.
According to MOTC statistics, an impressive 97,000 individuals have pre-purchased the regional monthly pass, signaling strong interest in the program. The ministry estimates that around 620,000 people will utilize these passes every month.
In addition to the current participating municipalities, nine other regions in Taiwan have expressed keen interest in joining the transit pass initiative. Proposals and plans are currently under discussion, paving the way for further expansion of the program and enhanced convenience for commuters nationwide.
