Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp (THSR) yesterday unveiled timetables showing expected surges in non-reserved ticket sales during the Double Ten National Day holiday, and suggested people avoid purchasing tickets during those periods.
The company on Sunday experienced a single-day record high of 338,000 passengers, leading to more than two hours of waiting time for some standing passengers.
The three peak periods are from 5pm tomorrow to 8pm, and 8am on Saturday to 11am for southbound trains, and 1pm on Saturday to 8pm for northbound trains, the company said.
Photo: Huang Hsu-lei, Taipei Times
The company said it would continue issuing updates on seating availability for trains labeled as “fast-selling” — indicating limited seating options for extended trips — and recommended travelers check these updates and complete their reservations as early as possible.
As of yesterday morning, the company said that “fast-selling” trains included southbound trains from tomorrow at noon to Saturday night and noon to the evening on the Double Ten National Day, the company said.
“Fast-selling” northbound trains include the ones leaving stations after work hours — between 4pm and 5pm — tomorrow, afternoons to nighttime seats for all trains on Monday and the entirety of Tuesday, the company added.
The company urged passengers who have already pre-purchased seats to use its mobile app or kiosks at convenience stores to collect their tickets and save time at stations.
The company said it would consider initiating certain control measures — such as prioritizing entry for reserved-seat passengers, directing non-reserved-seat passengers to board both express and non-express trains, or limiting the number of non-reserved-seat passengers entering a station — to ensure swift boarding processes.
It also called on non-reserved-seat passengers to refrain from taking reserved seats.
The company said it would be cautious when allowing passengers without reserved seats to stand in aisles or connecting compartments between cars.
An additional 190 trains would be added to the schedule from tomorrow to Wednesday, it said.
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