Take MRT in Taiwan
Template:FormatTemplate:CleanupMass Rapid Transit (MRT) is a public transportation system in Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Taoyuan, Taiwan. Like UK's subway, MRT provides cheap and fast transportation for commuters and students. However, there are some restrictions to taking the MRT, and these rules must be followed, or you will be fined severely.
Steps
- Determine which kind of metro ticket works for your trip. There are many kinds of metro tickets like single-journey tickets, all-pass tickets, and electronic tickets. It is inconvenient that passengers should buy a single-journey ticket before they take a ride every time, and they also need to look at the route map to correspond to the price when buying a ticket. Therefore, we recommend you use an electronic ticket like EasyCard to take the MRT. You should only top up enough money and do not need to calculate the cost when you take a ride. Moreover, if you travel on Easy Card, you will receive discounts when transferring between Metro and buses, YouBike, or Danhai LRT. Also, it is convenient that you can buy an Easy Card at the MRT station or a convenience store.
- Buy tickets:
- You can use Easycard and iPass as tickets to take MRT.
- If neither one of these are owned, you can buy a one-way ticket, which is a blue token.
- How to buy a one-way ticket:
- Go to the ticket vending machine.
- Choose "Single Journey Ticket."
- Look up the map and the corresponding price.
- (Taipei) Choose the price of the ticket and the number of the ticket.
- (Kaohsiung) Choose your destination and the number of the ticket.
- Pay for the ticket, then get the token.
- Go into the platform.
- Tap your iPass, Easycard or token on the machine.
- Check for the stations nearest both your current location and your destination. Usually, you can check the nearest MRT station of your destination by Google Map. After knowing the starting station and the destination, you can find the shortest way of route by the MRT map (https://www.metro.taipei/cp.aspx?n=91974F2B13D997F1). Remember not to fall asleep in the train, or you may miss your stop.
- Learn about the prohibited items on board the train. There are several things prohibited in the MRT stations and in the train. First, cigarettes, food, drinks, chewing gums, and betel nuts are not allowed. You will hear the announcement repeated again and again while you are taking the MRT. Second, do not lean on the doors. It will be quite dangerous when the doors are opening if you do that. Last but not least, please stay clear of closing doors. People often run when the doors are closing, which is quite risky for both themselves and other passengers.
- Board the escalators. People in Taipei tend to stand on the right-hand side of the escalators. People of Taiwan consider the left-hand side to be reserved for people in a hurry. However, it’s not a regulation, so you can stand on the left-hand side if you want.
- Take the MRT.
- If there are multiple routes to choose from, verify your destination and take the right direction.
- Be aware of the MRT's terminal station, or you will need to transfer, which is really annoying.
- Take off the MRT.
- You can follow the board to go to the right exit.
- If you're using Easycard or iPass, tap your card on the machine.
- If you're using one-way ticket, throw your token into the machine.
- Wait for the train to arrive. You should line up along the white lines which are on the platforms of the mart. Also, you have to let arriving passengers get off the train before boarding. Otherwise, all the passengers will be crowded in the MRT car, causing the arriving passengers not able to get off the train.
- Leave the MRT station.
Tips
- There are different colors corresponding to different routes, which can make you clearly distinguish different routes.
Warnings
1. No food or drinks are allowed in MRT platform and MRT train, or you will be fined 1500-7500NT. 2. During the COVID-19 pandemic, passengers need to wear masks in whole MRT station, or you will be fined 3000-15000NT, and MRT has the right to refuse service.
