2,500 Yuan Lost! Man Charged for Overstaying at High-Speed Rail Station While Waiting for Friend

High-speed rail in Taiwan is known for its speed and convenience, making it a popular choice for daily commuters. Recently, however, a netizen shared an experience on Threads about nearly being charged 2,500 TWD in penalty fees after waiting over three hours inside a station for a friend. The individual arrived earlier than their companion and stayed seated on the platform, only to be stopped at the exit gate and informed of an overstay fee. Fortunately, after explaining the situation and confirming via surveillance footage that no misuse occurred, station staff decided to waive the charge. The poster warned others to exit the station first and wait outside if meeting someone.

The incident sparked widespread discussion online. Commenters expressed surprise, with some noting that restrooms and food options are outside the gates, making long waits on platforms inconvenient. Others pointed out that due to the high speed of the trains, three hours could allow multiple round trips, justifying the high penalty. Many revealed they were unaware of such rules, with some adding that similar overstay policies exist on the Taiwan Railway (TRA) and Taipei Metro.

According to the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation’s passenger transport agreement, if a passenger’s travel duration exceeds 3 hours and 30 minutes without a valid reason, a 2,500 TWD penalty—equivalent to a full-fare business class ticket for the entire route—is imposed. The TRA charges 139 TWD for overstays between 1–3 hours and 911 TWD beyond 3 hours with a platform ticket. Taipei Metro limits same-station entry-exit to 15 minutes and inter-station travel to 2 hours; exceeding these times incurs an additional fee of at least 20 TWD, the minimum single-journey fare.