Taiwan Railways' "Mobile Station 2.0" at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital Allows Ticket Services and Connects "Love Service"

(CNA, Hualien County, June 8, by reporter Li Hsien-feng) Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital and the Taiwan Railways Corporation (TRC) have collaborated to promote "Mobile Station 2.0," providing services such as ticket purchasing, refunds/exchanges, and train schedule inquiries in the outpatient lobby of the hospital's Da'ai Building. It also allows registration for the "Love Service," making medical visits and return travel arrangements more convenient and reassuring for the public.

The "Mobile Station" service, a collaboration between Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital and TRC, first began a trial run in February 2023. At that time, it operated three days a week, four hours a day, allowing patients, families, and medical staff to handle ticket purchases, exchanges, and inquiries within the hospital. The service was later temporarily suspended due to post-disaster reconstruction and transportation scheduling needs.

It officially returned on June 1st of this year, fully upgraded to version 2.0. Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital President Lin Hsin-jung and TRC's East Area Operations Director Yang Shun-an signed a memorandum of understanding today, symbolizing a further upgrade in the cross-domain collaboration between medical care and transportation services.

The "Mobile Station" is located at a dedicated counter next to the service desk in the outpatient lobby on the first floor of Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital's Da'ai Building. Service hours are from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday. It now also features multiple mobile payment options and has dedicated staff on-site to provide assistance.

Yang Shun-an stated that the mobile station is an extension of the Hualien Station's services. Except for not being able to board the train directly at the hospital, all basic station services are available at the mobile station. Although the current TRC mobile app provides functions like booking and ticket changes, physical tickets and in-person assistance remain irreplaceably necessary for the elderly, people with disabilities, those unfamiliar with internet operations, and children or students without mobile phones.

Yang Shun-an pointed out that the mobile station can also connect with the "Love Service." When passengers with wheelchairs or special needs purchase tickets, the station can be instantly notified through a service group, allowing station staff to know the passenger's train details, seat, and assistance requirements in advance. When the passenger arrives at the station, service staff can wait at the ticket gate to assist them in boarding the train, achieving a seamless transition from the hospital to the station and providing greater peace of mind for patients and their families on their journey home after medical treatment.

Lin Hsin-jung said, "Many patients, families, and staff come in and out of Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital every day, and many of them are from out of town." In the past, if patients needed to refund, exchange, or repurchase tickets after their consultation or examination, they had to rush to the train station and wait in line, which was very difficult for those who were unwell or had mobility issues. With the TRC Mobile Station, patients can have their consultations and examinations with peace of mind. If a ticket change is needed, it can be handled immediately in the hospital lobby. After their visit, they can go to catch their train without worry, which is a great help to patients.