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THSRC mulls plan to develop areas around main stops

The Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp (THSRC, 台灣高鐵) may launch a plan next year to develop areas surrounding major stations on its route, an official said yesterday.

THSRC chief executive officer Ou Chin-der (歐晉德) said that with the steady increase in passenger volume on the bullet train, which was launched in January last year, it made sense to develop the areas around key stops.

“Businesses need to invest more — even amid the economic downturn — and it may be a good time to promote the development of areas surrounding several major stops next year,” Ou told reporters.

The THSRC plans to boost its capital by between NT$20 billion (US$600 million) and NT$30 billion within three years to add three stops to the route, buy more train cars and develop areas around its busiest stations.

Ou said the high speed rail’s five main mid-route stops — Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Chiayi and Tainan — all have plenty of room for development.

The THSRC will first form a development company to this end, which will focus on Hsinchu and Taoyuan stations first, as it will not have the means to work on all five stops simultaneously, he said.

The Hsinchu stop will be a suitable location for businesses related to the high-tech industry, Ou said, because National Chiao Tung University, National Tsinghua University and Hsinchu Science Park are all nearby.

The Taoyuan station is linked to Taoyuan International Airport and will be a good location for businesses that assemble high-tech products, Ou said, urging Hon Hai Group (鴻海集團) to consider the area.
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