HSR PRICES MAY RISE, BUT MOTC NOT YET NOTIFIED|高鐵新費率計算 北高來回恐貴160元

Taking high speed rail trains in Taiwan may be more expensive than now as there is a potential price rise. According to the MOTC's new base rate, a return ticket from Taipei to Kaohsiung will increase to NT$160, Taipei to Taichung to NT$80. The MOTC said that they have asked the THSR to consider public feelings and to perform a careful review before deciding whether to raise ticket prices. A mother bought a high speed rail train ticket for her daughter who was about to travel from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Every month, the mother has to spend money on purchasing THSR tickets to let her daughter, who studies in Kaohsiung, to travel faster back home to Taipei. On hearing that there may be a price rise for THSR tickets, she said that this will be a burden for the average family. ==MEMBER OF PUBLIC== There should not be a price rise. There are rising prices everywhere. The only exception is our salary. If the THSR is going for a price rise, there is nothing we can do. However, some think that to ensure a high quality operation, the price rise is acceptable. ==MR.CHEN== A price rise may not necessarily be a bad thing. After all, it helps to elevate THSR's operation quality. According to the new base rate issued by the MOTC, the base rate price per kilometer on high speed rail tickets will be adjusted from NT$4.009 to NT$4.134. This means, a single ticket from Taipei to Kaohsiung will increase by NT$80, from NT$1,490 to NT$1,570. A return ticket will from Taipei to Kaohsiung will increase to NT$160, Taipei to Tainan to NT$150, Taipei to Taichung to NT$80. == WANG KUO-TSAI Dep. Minister MOTC == According to the build-operate-transfer contract, THSR is eligible to make adjustments to ticket prices. However, THSR's board of directors will first perform a careful review before making the final decision. Besides taking operation costs into consideration, THSR have to think about public feelings. There was a drop in ticket prices just two years ago due to government fiscal reform. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications, serving as a major shareholder of the company, will express its objection to hikes on ticket prices in the board meeting. THSR said that operation costs, market competitiveness, traveler's needs will be taken into consideration. The final decision will be made after a careful review by its board of directors. TRANSLATED BY ARIEL HSIEH 高鐵票價可能要調漲！依照新費率計算，北高來回票價，將增加160元，北中也將多出80元。由於多數民眾，不希望調漲，交通部表示，目前還沒收到調整訊息，但是要高鐵，審慎評估。 到櫃台買完高鐵票，蘇媽媽的女兒清明節連續假期後，就準備搭高鐵從台北回到高雄讀書。她幾乎每個月買高鐵北高來回票，讓女兒可以回台北。不過，聽到高鐵票價可能要漲價，她覺得長期下來對一般家庭是個負擔。 ==民眾 蘇媽媽== 其實不應該(漲價) 現在很多東西都漲 對不對 吃的東西也漲 什麼都漲 就薪水不漲 如果要漲也沒有辦法 不過也有民眾認為，為了維護營運品質，適度調漲可以接受。 ==民眾 陳先生== 漲價不見得是一件不好的事情 這畢竟有助於整個高鐵 （提升)他們的營運質量 交通部公告高鐵核定基本費率標準，從現行的每公里4.009元，調高為4.134元。依照新費率計算，高鐵從台北到左營，單程票價從1490元漲至1570元，調漲80元，來回票價漲幅會多出160元。台北台南多出150元、台北台中則是多80元。 ==交通部次長 王國材== 雖然依據BOT合約 高鐵公司有依據可以調整 但是高鐵公司董事會 還需審慎評估 除考慮經營成本外 也需要考慮前年底財改才降價 民眾不期待這種調漲 交通部也會以大股東身分 在董事會表達此看法 高鐵則表示是否漲價，會依合約機制並考量營業成本、市場競爭力與旅客需求，經董事會評估後，再做調整的決定。 記者 李志華 謝其文 台北報導