By KHT Staff
KAOHSIUNG — Taiwan’s High-Speed Rail (HSR) extension to Pingtung has officially entered the environmental impact assessment (EIA) stage, with the Railway Bureau confirming the project will adopt the “Kaohsiung route” option, according to Liberty Times.
Under the plan, the new line will stretch approximately 26.2 kilometers and include two new stations: an underground HSR Kaohsiung Station and an elevated HSR Pingtung Station. Both will be co-located with Taiwan Railways (台鐵) stations, allowing passengers to transfer between systems within the station concourse without going outside.
The new HSR Kaohsiung Station will be built beneath the existing Taiwan Railways Kaohsiung Station, occupying basement levels one and two. Facilities will include ticket halls, gates, waiting areas, station offices, and retail space. Platforms will run parallel to Taiwan Railways tracks and measure 420 meters, with one island platform, one side platform, and three tracks.
The project will make Kaohsiung Station the city’s second three-line transit hub, integrating HSR, Taiwan Railways, and the metro system.
Meanwhile, the HSR Pingtung Station will be constructed on elevated tracks at the former Taiwan Sugar Corporation Liukuaicuo Farm site, co-located with the relocated Liukuaicuo Taiwan Railways Station. It will feature an island platform at least 324 meters long, with ticketing and passenger facilities on the concourse level.
Source: Liberty Times (自由時報)
