High-Speed Rail Extension to Yilan Approved! Executive Yuan Allocates NT$352.1 Billion, Completion Expected by 2036 with 20-Minute Travel from Nangang to Yilan

Executive Yuan Premier Cho Jung-tai officially approved the high-speed rail (HSR) extension to Yilan on the 23rd. The 60.6-kilometer extension is expected to alleviate chronic traffic congestion on National Highway No. 5. With a total approved budget of NT$352.1 billion, the project aims to begin construction in 2029 and be completed by 2036. Upon operation, travel time from Nangang to Yilan will be reduced to just 20 minutes. If complementary projects such as the double-tracking and electrification of the Hualien-Taitung railway are also completed, travel time from Taipei to Hualien could be cut from the current 150 minutes to 90 minutes.

Illustration of the HSR Yilan Extension Project (source: Railway Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications)

During the Executive Yuan meeting, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications reported on the progress of the 'Four 90-Minute Island-Wide Efficient Rail Network' initiative, which includes four key projects: the HSR extension to Yilan, the HSR extension to Pingtung, the double-tracking and electrification of the Hualien-Taitung railway, and the alignment improvements and bottleneck section double-tracking of the South-Link Line.

Executive Yuan spokesperson Lee Hui-chih stated at the post-cabinet press conference that Premier Cho emphasized the 60.6-kilometer HSR Yilan extension would help relieve congestion on National Highway No. 5, improve transportation convenience between northern and Yilan regions, enhance rail transport capacity in eastern Taiwan, and provide a high-speed rail option for the eastern region, which has long relied solely on Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) services. He described it as a new starting point for strengthening transportation resilience in eastern Taiwan.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced that following the approval, it will immediately initiate subsequent procedures, including public-private partnership recruitment (procurement), urban planning adjustments, land acquisition, design, and construction preparations.

Additionally, the Ministry noted that the HSR extension to Pingtung is currently undergoing comprehensive planning and second-stage environmental impact assessment, the Hualien-Taitung double-tracking project has already entered the construction phase, and the South-Link Line alignment improvement and bottleneck double-tracking project continues with comprehensive planning. These projects are expected to proceed according to schedule, ultimately improving the functionality of Taiwan’s northern, southern, and eastern rail networks, effectively relieving capacity bottlenecks on the TRA, and enhancing national transportation resilience against extreme climate events.