By KHT Staff
KAOHSIUNG — Taiwan’s High-Speed Rail (HSR) southern extension to Pingtung is planned to run approximately 26.2 kilometers from Zuoying in Kaohsiung to a new terminal station in Pingtung, with completion currently projected around 2039. The approved “Kaohsiung plan” follows existing railway corridors and includes two major new stations: an underground HSR station near Kaohsiung Main Station designed as a three-line interchange linking HSR, Taiwan Railways (TRA), and Kaohsiung Metro, and a new Pingtung HSR station in the Liukuaicuo area, planned as a shared facility with TRA.
Government officials say the project is expected to shorten travel times, integrate Pingtung into Taiwan’s high-speed rail network, and support the development of a Kaohsiung–Pingtung regional living and economic zone. Urban planners also project redevelopment around Kaohsiung Main Station and new growth opportunities in Pingtung linked to the rail hub.
Concerns, however, 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, drawing comparisons to the city’s previous railway undergrounding project, which caused nearly two decades of disruption.
City officials say mitigation measures and public consultations will continue, but local groups are calling for clearer construction timelines and traffic management plans. While the project’s long-term economic benefits are widely acknowledged, its short- and medium-term impact on daily life remains a central point of debate.
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