Taipei, Dec. 26 (CNA) An express bus service will begin Jan. 15, 2020 between Tainan and Kaohsiung International Airport, in an effort to bring more visitors to Tainan, the city's Mayor Huang Wei-cher said Thursday.
The Tainan Express, operated by Han-Cheng Bus Traffic Co., will run directly between the Kaohsiung airport and Tainan, taking about 70 minutes each way, Huang said.
The pickup and drop-off points will be Kaohsiung International Airport, Tainan Municipal Arts Center, Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, Tainan Bus Station, and Xiaoximen, at a fare of NT$150 (US$4.9) one way, according to a city government statement.
The first buses daily will depart from Xiaoximen at 3:30 a.m. and from Kaohsiung International Airport at 5 a.m., said the city government, which commissioned the service.
Buses run eight times a day in both directions, with the last buses departing from Xiaoximen at 9:30 p.m. and from Kaohsiung International Airport at 11:30 p.m., according to the statement.
According to Huang, the aim is to provide a regular, comfortable and convenient service that will encourage more people to visit Tainan.
Passengers will be compensated if there are delays in the bus service that affect their travel schedules, and if any luggage is inadvertently left behind on the bus, it will be delivered to the owners free of cost, he said, adding that the buses have large luggage space.
Tickets for the bus service are already on sale on the travel booking site Klook, the city government said.
Currently, there is no direct public transportation between Tainan and Kaohsiung airport. Travelers between the two points usually take the MRT, buses, trains and high speed rail, all of which require transfer from one to another or by taxi.
