The Keelung City Government is drawing up a plan for Taiwan Railway to operate through trains between Keelung and Nangang. A recent survey showed that nearly 80 percent of respondents are in favor. Keelung City Mayor George Hsieh suggested that Taiwan Railway's 7:34 a.m. Tze-Chiang Limited Express 109 train make an additional stop at Nangang Station between Keelung and Taipei in coordination with the NT$1,200 monthly Taipei-New Taipei City-Keelung-Taoyuan transport pass that will be launched later this year. He hopes this will make life easier for commuters.
George Hsieh, Mayor, Keelung City: “The 7:34 through train from Badu to Taipei can make an additional stop at Nangang. This won't affect the current schedule of shuttle trains. It was already a through train going all the way to Taipei, so it won't affect operations at other stations.”
Taiwan Railway previously said adding a through train would require having other shuttle trains give way to the through train, which would affect operations. Hsieh, therefore, suggested having the 109 express train make an additional stop at Nangang Station. He also said he has already spoken with Transportation and Communications Minister Wang Kwo-tsai about the commuting requirements of residents and Wang promised to study adjustments.
基隆市長謝國樑說明：「7點34分，基隆、八堵到台北的這個直達車，中間來加停南港，絕對不會影響到目前區間車的班次調度，因為它本來就是一個直達車，它是一路到台北，所以它也不會影響到其他目前的站的一個運作。」
對於台鐵表示，如果加開直達車，其他區間車，都得避讓直達車，會影響營運，謝國樑因此想出自強號加停南港站的建議；也強調已經向交通部長王國材，反映市民的通勤需求，王國材則承諾將進行研議調整。