The high-visibility red and blue pavement that guided drivers through the new main station are being removed. City officials say traffic has stabilized, and the costly surface has worn down under heavy use.

The redesigned spaces include separate dining and quiet lounge areas, sofa seating with charging ports, massage chairs, briefing rooms, shared computer workstations, and refrigerators stocked with fresh meals and snacks.

The proposed expressway would extend from the Zhutian interchange of Freeway 88 (台88線) in Pingtung County to Route 26 (台26線) near Checheng Township, just north of Hengchun (恆春).

Vietnam Airlines (越南航空) plans to increase its direct service between Ho Chi Minh City (胡志明市) and Kaohsiung (高雄) for the Northern summer 2026 flight season, reflecting growing demand between southern Taiwan and Vietnam.

The Ocean Fuji cruise ship (海洋富士號) canceled its scheduled January 22 arrival at Taichung Port (台中港), once again dashing hopes for the city, which has waited nearly seven years for a cruise ship to dock.

People in the city may have finally gotten used to seeing a tram/train glide through city streets.

A new traffic diversion lane designed to separate heavy construction vehicles from smaller commuters has come under fire after three accidents occurred within a single hour of its opening. The dedicated lane on Zuonan Road (左楠路) was implemented to manage heavy truck traffic heading to the massive TSMC plant construction site in nearby Nanzih District.

“The metro will reshape daily life and urban patterns in Tainan,” the bureau said. “We are integrating rail construction with parking facilities and surrounding land development to build a more livable and accessible city.”

Concerns have focused on the construction impacts, particularly a planned 5.78-kilometer open-cut section through central Kaohsiung, which is longer than earlier estimates. Residents and business owners worry about extended traffic disruptions, noise, dust, and road closures.

Advance ticket sales begin January 13 at midnight for eastern corridor reserved-seat trains, including Yilan, North-Link, South-Link, and cross-line services. Western corridor ticket sales open January 14 at midnight, with bookings available for travel through February 23. Real-name eastern corridor trains open for booking at midnight on January 15 for passengers whose ID numbers begin with U or V, registered residents of Hualien or Taitung counties, and their spouses or first-degree relatives.