This is a guide on how to book train tickets in Taiwan. The Taiwan Railway Administration (台灣鐵路管理局), commonly posted on signage as simply TRA is the main railway service in Taiwan, and provides convenient access to a large majority of locations all over Taiwan.
To book your Taiwan train tickets with Taiwan Railway Administration, please visit the below link:
You will see the website above. Click "Ticket" and it will bring you to another page shown below - Ticket
Next, click "Internet Ticketing". And you will then get this new page "Order Tickets on Net" below.
There are numerous ways of ordering tickets. I usually go to "Timetable Search Service" ( 2nd bullet from bottom ) to search for the type of train service and time of the service. I found this most useful. Once you click that, it will bring you to a new page shown below.
Then,
1) choose your origin - From
2) choose your destination - To
3) Train Types
4) Select date and time of travel
5) Finally click "Search"
And you will see the page below where you can check the service and the time table. Note the service number of the train which suits you best. And click "Order Tickets".
You will arrive at the site below "Order Train Tickets"
Enter the various field required. The earliest you can book tickets is 14 days in advance of your date of travel. Once you have filled in the fields, click "Start To Order" and the page below will show up.
"Booking Successfully" page above shows that the ticket is booked and ready for "Online Payment". Click it.
The page above pops up and you are ready to make your payment with your VISA or Mastercard. "Start buying a ticket".
Well, you have made it. Congratulations!
Enjoy your vacation in Taiwan.
If you book the Taiwan Railway tickets online, you have to collect them from the train stations or post offices nationwide one day in advance to your departure. If you travel with Taiwan High Speed Rail, then you can collect them from the machines in HSR stations or at most of the convenience shops (7-11s, FamiMarts etc.) 30 minutes before departure.
Be sure to arrive early for your scheduled train, as the layout of some stations is a bit awkward and the lack of clear signage sometimes makes it difficult to find the proper track.
Do not lose your ticket! Upon exiting the station, passengers are required to present their ticket. Passengers without a ticket must pay a fee equal the maximum fare of the line to exit the station.
