Kaohsiung, June 29 (CNA) The southern Taiwan version of the TPass scheme, which offers unlimited use of public transport in Kaohsiung, Tainan and Pingtung, will launch on July 1 at a price of NT$999 (US$32.14) per month, according to the Kaohsiung City government.
In Kaohsiung, TPass cards will be available for purchase July 1 at any of the city's 38 Metro stations and five Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) stations, the city's Transportation Bureau said in a press release Thursday.
The passes are also currently available for pre-order at any of Taiwan's four major convenience store chains, it added.
After obtaining their TPass, cardholders will have to register their personal information on the iPass website or using the city's MeN Go app/website, and can then go to a convenience store to claim a subsidy of NT$100 in stored value, the bureau said.
The southern Taiwan TPass can be used in the three municipalities for unlimited journeys on buses, metro and light rail services, TRA trains and ferries, as well as YouBike rentals under 30 minutes.
From July 1, Kaohsiung's monthly city-wide NT$399 public transport pass will also be expanded to cover TRA train journeys within city limits, the transportation bureau said.
Other versions of the TPass program will also kick off July 1 in Taipei-New Taipei-Taoyuan-Keelung in northern Taiwan for NT$1,200 per month and in Taichung-Miaoli-Nantou-Changhua in central Taiwan for NT$699 (for Taichung residents) or NT$999 (for non-Taichung residents).
The TPass scheme was launched under the government's NT$380 billion post-pandemic economic recovery package, which was passed by lawmakers on March 24.
