Yes, the shinkansen in Taiwan is way behind schedule and it may not be up in running until 2007 now. They say 2006, but who knows. And a new report says the land in Yunlin County is sinking and the tracks might be unsafe there. Ouch!

Michael: I’m not saying Taiwan’s right or wrong to spend on that railway, but your comment could easily have applied to Japan in 1964, and yet…
Japan’s original Tokyo-Osaka shinkansen proved to be both a technological and commercial success, so much so that the system has been extended to cover much of the nation. Not all the extensions are in the black yet, perhaps, but judging from my experience in trying to snag unreserved seats I’d say the overall system is bound to show profit.

Does the Japan bullet train really make money? My understanding is that it covers its operating costs plus a little left over on some lines, but has never returned the capital invested.

It is true that large projects often generate economic multipliers that are difficult to quantify. But almost *any* large infrastructure project will do that — if Taiwan had spent those billions on some other project that not only generated the same economic multipliers, it could have the same effect and serve a much broader class of people than the thin crust who can afford tickets on the Bullet Train. Imagine if the island had built wind power plants off the coasts, or punched a four lane over or through the mountains to connect the east and west coasts…..there are lots of possibilities. Not to mention environmental cleanup, water purification, etc etc etc, all of which can drive new Taiwan industries. The Bullet Train won’t.

Also, the OP says that it can do the Taipei-Kaohsiung run in 90 minutes, which is technically true, but with some dozen stops, it will be more like 150 minutes.

It is true that no one can see into the future for certain, but a good indicator of its viability is that all of the private investors have pulled out of the project.

The Bullet Train is real neat, but it is a toy. Every day the water system here leaks out 30% of the water that goes through it, some 300 million toilet flushes every day — the deficit is made up by pumping groundwater, causing the subsidence that the previous poster referred to. Priorities are badly misplaced here. Taiwan is not Japan, much, I think, to the regret of the locals.

Michael

Also, at it can do the Taipei-Kaohsiung run in 90 minutes, which is technically true, but with some dozen stops, it will be more like 150 minutes.

That’s the real story. The ads say 90 minutes, but in reality it will be two hours plus, with ten minutes at each station along the way. I think I will ride it once and then go back to bus service. Does the trick.

On the other hand, I like the IDEA of this bullet train, and when up and running, as they say, it will add some luster to Taiwan’s international image so in terms of tourism potential, it is a good investment. That’s just what the Japan bullet train has been, an iconic image of Mt Fuji in the background with the shinkansen flying by on a cloudless day. Perfect tourism come on. The Taiwan bullet train will do the same trick, PR-wise. Watch!

I will be first in line.

by express train? two hours….

High Speed Hijinks

The first high-speed test of the Taiwan High Speed Rail 高速鐵路即將通車 ‘bullet train’ made headlines today, in an attempt to counter bad press last month from a 1 year delay, near-bankruptcy, and government infusion of NT$7.5 billion (US$230 million).

A quick comparison of the different transportation methods to Kaohsiung shows storm clouds ahead for the already shaky service, first approved by KMT saboteur and Japanophile 李登輝, Lee Tung-Hui during better economic times.

Airplane: NT$2000 for a 60 minute ride
Expected THSR fare: NT$1200 for a 81 minute ride
Current local train fare: NT$800 for a 4 hour ride

Such a small country doesn’t need an expensive, imported rail system that sucks further dollars out of Taiwan. The rail system is incompatible with current rail lines, and is completely separate from the current infrastructure. The entire project has been designed and built in Japan, then transferred to Taiwan where Japanese and European engineerrs and suppliers squabble over implementation. All this contributes nothing to local economies or Taiwan. The DPP is holding out the carrot of future growth, while spending money that would probably be put to better used if directly infused into the economy. However, Taiwan Shinkansen chairwoman 殷琪 Nita Ing has long been a devoted supporter of ROC President 陳水扁Chen Shui-Bian, so we can take all heart at the knowledge that there must be some other form of contribution coming back to Taiwan.

Last month’s bailout, which used a loophole to circumvent a standing legislative resolution against investing further funds, was inexplicably financed by the Aviation Development Fund, the owner of China Airlines, Taiwan’s national carrier. The DPP was so desperate to keep the pet project going, it essentially got the national airline to finance its own competitor. No conflict of interest there at all, really. And let’s not forget that the capital city of Taipei STILL doesn’t have anything other than a bus link to the national airport.