By Eryk Michael Smith / Staff. Image via 高雄好過日 FB page.
KAOHSIUNG — The “高雄好過日” Facebook page recently reported on new numbers from the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit (KMRT) system, which show that February 2026 marked the second-highest monthly performance for the city’s MRT/light rail lines.
Much of the increase was driven by large-scale public events and holiday tourism. According to data released by the KRTC (高雄捷運公司), the combined daily average ridership across all lines reached 264,917. This figure is surpassed only by the record set in December 2025, which saw 276,059 daily boardings.
Ridership Breakdown by Line
The Red Line (紅線) maintained its position as the system’s backbone with 158,339 daily trips. Notably, the Circular Light Rail (輕軌) recorded 53,178 daily trips, nearly equaling the 53,400 daily trips reported for the Orange Line (橘線).
Officials attributed the Light Rail’s surge to the “Winter Wonderland” (冬日遊樂園) festivities at Love River Bay (愛河灣). This mirrors a 2024 trend where the Light Rail briefly surpassed the Orange Line due to the extended presence of the Rubber Duck exhibition.
The Orange Line typically maintains a lead of approximately 10,000 daily passengers during standard months, while numbers for the Light Rail fluctuate more, mostly linked to tourism.
Growth Projections and Infrastructure
The Orange Line’s current transportation density remains at approximately 60% of the Red Line’s performance, falling below initial construction expectations. Growth for the Orange Line is anticipated following the opening of Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Kaohsiung and the completion of seven transit-oriented development (TOD) projects along the route.
The Light Rail is currently operating at roughly 60% of its total designed capacity. This, however, is mostly due to it not having enough trains. Fleet expansions scheduled over the next two to three years are expected to provide significant growth in ridership numbers.
Transportation analysts believe both the Light Rail and the Orange Line could grow to 150% of their current volumes before the Yellow Line (黃線) commences operations in approximately six years. Target figures are set at 55,000 daily trips for the Light Rail and 67,000 for the Orange Line. Upon completion of the Yellow Line, some say the total system-wide ridership could reach between 400,000 and 500,000 daily passengers.
