On what date did Taiwan High Speed Rail begin scheduled passenger service?

Taiwan High Speed Rail began scheduled passenger service on 5 January 2007.

The railway runs along Taiwan’s western corridor, linking the northern city of Nangang with Zuoying in the south. Its main line is approximately 345 kilometres long and uses trains derived from Japan’s Shinkansen technology.

Construction began in the late 1990s, and the project was designed to reduce travel times between Taiwan’s major population centres. Before high-speed rail, journeys between Taipei and Kaohsiung by conventional rail took considerably longer; high-speed services made the trip possible in roughly 90 minutes on the fastest schedules.

A common mix-up is confusing the railway’s opening date with the launch of its commercial operations. Test runs and preparatory work took place before 5 January 2007, but that is the date associated with the start of regular public service. The trains are operated by Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation.