Transportation Networks Brace for Lunar New Year Rush

Taiwan's Lunar New Year travel rush is already underway, with airports and rail links preparing for big crowds.

Transcript

00:00The Lunar New Year break doesn't officially start until Saturday, but this crowd of travelers

00:06hasn't waited.

00:08For many, this is a popular, if pricey, time to do some sightseeing or shopping abroad.

00:13But as everyone who travels this time of year knows, it's important to hit the road early

00:18to beat the traffic, and for air travelers, the seemingly endless security lines.

00:23At Taiwan's main international airport in Taoyuan, some people are even arriving half

00:28a day before their flights.

00:33The airport metro line alone expects to carry an average of 145,000 passengers a day over

00:39the coming nine days of vacation.

00:42Those traveling domestically will face an even bigger crush.

00:46This is a time of year for visiting family and hometowns, and trains especially fill

00:51up to bursting.

00:52The rail network is trying to cope by increasing services.

00:57Meanwhile, the high-speed rail has a new strategy.

01:00Last year, there was some unpleasantness on this fast line linking Taiwan's main cities

01:04along the west coast as people squeezed in and competed for non-reserved seats.

01:10And this year, the line expects to carry over 1.3 million passengers during the break.

01:15So if crowds start to overflow this year, it will encourage passengers to use slower

01:20trains or buses instead.

01:22It's setting up a center in Taichung Station, roughly the halfway point on the line, that

01:27will direct passengers to other transport options.

01:31Some travelers think it's a good idea.

01:38But giving up on the fast train could mean adding hours onto the journey, especially

01:42with traffic on the highways.

01:44And so some are skeptical of the plan.

01:57It will be early February before things return to normal in the skies and on the rails and

02:01roads.

02:02Until then, travelers can expect lines, jams, and the need for an extra bit of patience

02:08on their journey.

02:09Luffy Lee and John Van Triest for Taiwan Plus.

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