Taipei: Taiwan's two main rail operators announced major service reductions for Saturday as Typhoon Bavi approaches, with Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) switching to a reduced all-nonreserved schedule for the full day and Taiwan Railway (TR) suspending most services before noon.
According to Focus Taiwan, THSR stated that it would cancel all regularly scheduled services on Saturday and instead run three trains per hour in each direction. These trains will depart from Nangang Station southbound and Zuoying Station northbound, stopping at every station with all cars being nonreserved, except for business-class. Trains will leave the terminal stations at the top of the hour, 20 minutes past, and 40 minutes past. For passengers departing from Taichung, THSR will add five extra early morning trains, including three northbound services and two southbound services.
The final southbound train from Nangang to Zuoying is planned for 9:40 p.m., with an additional southbound service leaving Nangang for Taichung at 10:40 p.m. Similarly, the final northbound train from Zuoying to Nangang will depart at 9:40 p.m., followed by a northbound service to Taichung at 10:40 p.m. THSR will allow passengers to apply for refunds without handling fees if they cancel trips due to the typhoon. Travelers whose trains are canceled can use their original tickets for any nonreserved services on Saturday.
Meanwhile, TR announced the suspension of most train services across Taiwan before noon Saturday. All reserved-seat trains on the western trunk line will be halted until 12 p.m. Saturday, with only local trains between Changhua and Chaozhou operating normally. Both reserved-seat and nonreserved trains on the eastern trunk line and South Link line will be fully suspended before noon. On branch lines, only the Shalun line in Tainan will continue normal operations, while other branch line services and tourist trains will be suspended. TR plans to announce post-noon service arrangements at 9 a.m. Saturday.
According to the Central Weather Administration, Typhoon Bavi was located approximately 540 kilometers east-northeast of Taiwan's southernmost tip of Eluanbi at 9 p.m. Friday, moving northwest at 27-30 kph. The storm is expected to impact Taiwan most severely from Friday night through Saturday, with rainbands likely affecting regions from New Taipei's northeastern coast to Yilan and Hualien counties early Saturday.