TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR, 台灣高鐵) launched ticket sales for the 2025 Lunar New Year early Thursday (Dec. 26), selling over 641,000 tickets within an hour. The company, enhancing its sales efficiency compared to previous years, saw a surge in bookings, with over 52,000 tickets reserved in the first four minutes.
The rail service noted that reservations exceeded 217,000 tickets within 12 minutes, reaching about 405,000 in 22 minutes and more than 535,000 in 32 minutes. The company adjusted its software and hardware settings to accommodate the high demand, offering three booking channels: online, convenience stores, and mobile apps. These channels can support up to 22,000 simultaneous users.
Taiwan High Speed Rail advised travelers to purchase return tickets early to avoid peak times. Due to the extended holiday period, the company anticipates a concentrated northbound crowd on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2, 2025. The company has deployed staff to monitor the ticketing situation continuously, ensuring all booking channels maintain standard efficiency and that the system completes services for connected travelers.
