Questions riders actually ask
Sourced from the official THSR passenger contract and rules pages and TRA's IC-card regulations. Fares and corridors live in the fare finder.
Luggage
How big can my bag be on THSR? Per item: no longer than 150 cm, length + width + height ≤220 cm, and ≤40 kg. Anything occupying a seat needs a full-fare ticket for that car. Cases 28″ and up belong in the large-luggage space at the end of each car.
FAQ-1 (high)
What about bikes on THSR? A bike in a soft bag (wheels off) or hard case within the luggage limits rides free — one per passenger, stored in the car-end luggage space. Oversize is possible up to 240 cm total (H ≤120 / L ≤100 / W ≤35 cm, ≤40 kg) if you buy a full-fare standard reserved seat in the first-row window trio of cars 1–5, in advance at a station counter. Not offered during announced peak periods.
FAQ-2 (high)
And bikes on TRA? A fully bagged bike (≤150 cm / 220 cm / 40 kg) rides free on all trains without occupying a seat. Unbagged bikes ride only the designated bike-friendly trains (兩鐵環 保運送) with a bike ticket at 50% of the adult fare — advance arrangement and designated stations apply. Checked/parcel transport also exists.
FAQ-6 (med)
IC cards on TRA (EasyCard / iPASS / icash 2.0)
Where do they work? Island-wide, including branch lines: on 區間/區間快 and 莒光 at 區間 fares (莒光 no seat). On 自強, trips of ≤50 km charge at the 區間 fare; longer trips charge the first 50 km at 區間 rates plus the remainder at 自強 rates. Excluded trains — 太魯閣, 普悠瑪, 自強(3000), and the special tourist/group/business/family cars — treat a tap-in as riding without a ticket: back fare plus a 50% penalty.
The mechanics that catch people out: tap in and out. Time limits: 3 h for trips under 70 km, 8 h under 200 km, 12 h beyond — exceed it and you're charged the full 自強 fare. Same-station entry/exit fees: NT$22 within 1 h, NT$161 for 1–3 h, NT$933 beyond 3 h. Top up at least NT$100; balance caps at NT$10,000; minimum fare NT$22. Going out with a negative balance is allowed to −60 (EasyCard) / −65 (iPASS, icash).
FAQ-4 (high)
Do IC cards still get a discount? The flat 10% ended in August 2024. What remains is a frequent-rider cashback scheme (up to 20%) running alongside the TPASS commuter pass.
FAQ-5 (med)
Pets and gates
Pets on THSR: a rigid container ≤55×45×38 cm, no smell or leaks, one free per passenger (a second needs another seat). Service dogs are exempt.
FAQ-7 (high)
How long can I stay inside the gates? THSR allows up to 3.5 hours between gate entry and exit before fines kick in.
FAQ-8 (high)
Refunds, changes and delays
THSR: cancel or refund up to 30 minutes before departure; after payment there's a NT$20 per-ticket handling fee (uncollected online tickets are exempt). If a delay of ≥30 minutes is attributable to THSR, compensation or a fee-free refund is available within one year.
FAQ-9 (high)
TRA: if your train is delayed more than 10 minutes or its departure is undetermined, you can claim a free full refund at the origin station within one year (rules refreshed with the 2025-06-23 contract); on-board delays of ≥45 minutes attributable to TRA also earn a full refund.
FAQ-10 (med)
Penalties on both systems: riding in a class you didn't pay for costs the fare difference plus 50% — THSR for unauthorised upgrades or misuse of non-reserved cars, TRA for riding excluded trains on an IC card or the wrong class.
FAQ-11 (high)
Booking procedure recaps: THSR · TRA · classes on ticket types.