TAIWAN TRIP: Travel Tips – Taipei to Ruifang by train (Jiufen and Shifen)

Paano ba pumunta ng Jiufen at Shifen by train galing sa Taipei Main Station? First time kong mag-train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang Station. Nung unang punta namin ng friend ko, galing kami sa Keelung. Kaya nag-bus kami papuntang Jiufen Old Street. Kaya this time ay nag-train ako pero hindi ko alam na napakadami pa lang class ang TRA (Taiwan Railway Administration). Kaya yung pagpunta ko ng Shifen ay naligaw pa ako nung una. As usual, mukhang nasanay na akong maligaw pagdating sa train katulad sa Korea, hehe. So, chill lang pabalik ng Taipei papuntang Ruifang Station. Ang tendency, nasubukan ko na halos lahat ng klase ng train nila, hahaha. Sabi nga nila, mas natututo ka kapag naliligaw. Yun lang, nakakasayang ng oras, hehe. Kaya bigyan ko kayo ng idea ng TRA Classs trains nila.

According to Lonely Planet:

Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA; www.railway.gov.tw) has an extensive system running along both the east and west coasts. There are no services into the Central Mountains, except tourism branch lines.

Trains are comfortable, clean, safe and reliable, with few delays. Reserved seating is available, and food and snacks are served. All major cities are connected by train. For fares and timetables, see the TRA website.

Classes

Chu-kuang (莒光; Jǔguāng) & Fu-hsing (復興; Fùxīng) Most trains belong to these two classes; they’re comfortable but not speedy. The fare is about 20% to 40% cheaper than Tze-chiang.

Local Train (區間車; Qūjiānchē) Cheap and stops at all stations; more like commuter trains, no reserved seating.

Tze-chiang (自強; Zìqiáng) These are express trains and are therefore faster and more expensive.

Taroko Express (太魯閣; Tàilǔgé) This is a special tilting train under the Tze-chiang class that takes you from Taipei to Hualien in two hours. There is no standing ticket.

Puyuma Express (普悠瑪; Pǔyōumǎ) Named after Taiwan’s Puyuma people, this is another tilting train under the Tze-chiang class. It is TRA’s fastest train at 150km/h. There is no standing ticket.

Link: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/taiwan/transport/getting-around/train

Ganito kadami ang iba’t-ibang class ng TRA sa Taipei kaya ako naligaw, hahaha. Na-feel niyo na kung bakit ako naligaw?

TRAIN TICKETS

Iba-iba din ang train ticket nila depende sa kung ano ang class ng train mo. Swerte na lang kapag tumapat sa oras ng Puyuma Express Train or Local Express Train. Atleast, mas mabilis ang biyahe. Itong mga picture na ito ay base sa biyahe ko, so makikita niyo kung ano ang nasakyan ko, hehe.

a) Chu-Kuang Express

b) Puyuma Express

c) Taroko Express

d) Local Train

e) Pingxi Line train (Ruifang to Shifen, Pingxi and Jingtong)

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Hindi ko alam kung may difference ba ng train ang Local Train at Local Express Train. Pinakamabagal ang local train dahil lahat ng station ay dadaanan niya from Taipei to Ruifang. So mas mahaba ang travel time. Hindi din okay mag-bus galing Taipei to Ruifang or Jiufen dahil may timetable din ang bus. Once na hindi mo maabutan ang bus, maghihintay ka ng 30mins. Minsan depende pa sa traffic. Kaya mas convenient pa din ang train.

TRA MAP

By the way, mahirap hanapin ang TRA Map kahit sa apps. Kaya mas better kung may copy kayo para alam niyo yung stations ng Taipei to Ruifang.

TRA website link: https://www.railway.gov.tw/tra-tip-web/tip

TRA USEFUL APPS

Please check this apps, para alam niyo yung TRA timetable at kung gusto niyong makapag-express train kasi yun ang mas convenient at mabilis na biyahe papunta sa Ruifang.

TRA from TAIPEI MAIN STATION to RUIFANG (North-Bound)

TRA Ticketing at Taipei Main Station

Please remember, Platform number 4 (North Bound)

Also, double check the announcement and color signs.

Double check the lane number. Dapat nasa right side lane kayo. Yung papuntang Ruifang, baka mapunta kayo sa Keelung. Kapag naligaw kayo sa Keelung, babalik kayo ng Badu station para sumakay ng train papuntang Ruifang.

RUIFANG STATION

NOTE: EXIT sa LEFT SIDE kung sa JIUFEN OLD STREET ang punta niyo dahil mag-bus na kayo papuntang Jiufen Old Street. Bus number 788. EXIT sa RIGHT SIDE going to PLATFORM 3, kapag papuntang SHIFEN OLD STREET. Another train ticket ulit yun. Yun na yung PINGXI LINE TRAIN.