The high speed rail is the quick way: under an hour from Taipei to HSR Taichung Station. Taiwan Railway is slower and cheaper, and arrives in the middle of town at Taichung Station. Buses are cheapest and slowest.
| Option | Time | Adult fare | Arrives at |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSR High speed rail from Taipei | 47 minutes to 1 hour 6 minutes | NT$700 reserved, NT$675 non-reserved, NT$1,250 business | HSR Taichung Station, Wuri |
| HSR High speed rail from Nangang | 58 minutes to 1 hour 17 minutes | NT$750 reserved | HSR Taichung Station, Wuri |
| TRA Tze-Chiang express | About 1 hour 49 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes | NT$500 | Taichung Station, old center |
| TRA Local train | 2 hours 30 minutes or more | NT$322 | Taichung Station, old center |
| Bus Intercity bus | About 2 hours 30 minutes | Check with the operator | Varies by company |
On a weekday there are around 70 high speed trains from Taipei to Taichung from early morning until 23:00, the last departure on the day we checked. From the HSR station, the MRT Green Line, buses or a 12-minute local train from Xinwuri take you into the city. → HSR station to the city
Good to know: the HSR saves the most time if you are staying near the MRT Green Line or Taichung City Hall. If your hotel is near Taiwan Railway's Taichung Station, a Tze-Chiang train takes longer but drops you at the door, with no change at the end.
Starting in Taipei? Inside Taipei's guide to getting to Taipei covers Taipei Main Station and the airport links.
→ Getting to Taichung · → Taichung to Tainan
Sources
THSR timetable and fare search (weekday of November 4, 2026); Taiwan Railway timetable and fare search (same day); Taichung Tourism Bureau on long-distance buses. Checked October 2026.