By KHT Staff
KAOHSIUNG — Passenger revenue for the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit system, including the Red Line, Orange Line, and Circular Light Rail, exceeded NT$2 billion for the first time last year, marking a historic high for the city’s rail network.
According to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, total passenger revenue reached NT$2.188 billion, an increase of about NT$377 million from the previous year.
Kaohsiung MRT service began on March 9, 2008, when the Red Line (紅線) opened to passengers. The Orange Line (橘線) followed later that year, opening on September 14, 2008. MRT revenue surpassed NT$1 billion within a year of opening and grew steadily until plunging to NT$902 million in 2021 amid pandemic-related travel declines. Revenues have since rebounded sharply as ridership recovered.
City officials attributed the growth to several factors, including the nationwide T-PASS transit subsidy program, major concerts and large-scale events, and the completion of the circular light rail network, which has expanded overall route coverage and convenience.
Total system ridership last year reached almost 85 million passenger trips, averaging about 232,000 daily riders. The Red Line accounted for some 54 million trips, the Orange Line about 12 million, and the Circular Light Rail over 13 million.
The light rail, once controversial and even halted during an earlier administration, has now recorded annual ridership exceeding 12 million for two consecutive years following the completion of full-line operations, underscoring its growing role in Kaohsiung’s integrated public transport network.
Source: Liberty Times
