Kaohsiung Light Rail Passenger Surge: Travel Guide 2026

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Travelling around southern Taiwan has never been more seamless. According to official statistics released by the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit Bureau, the Kaohsiung Light Rail system recorded over 7.21 million passenger trips in the first half of 2026. Daily patronage has surged to nearly 40,000 riders, while monthly figures consistently exceed 1.2 million passengers. This represents an 8.14% year-on-year increase, setting a new historical record for the network during the same calendar period.

Data analytics from electronic ticketing show that five main commuting purposes accounted for more than 6.3 million passenger trips—nearly 90% of the network's total volume. These key trips include leisure and sightseeing, student travel, medical visits, metro transfers, and Taiwan Railway network connections. The data highlights how local residents and visitors alike have fully integrated the circular light rail line into their everyday routine across the city.

Medical and Student Trips Lead Growth Rates

While tourism remains a major driver for the network, essential daily commutes saw the sharpest percentage increases during the first six months of the year. Medical-related transit achieved the highest growth rate among all categories, expanding by 14.39% year-on-year to reach 420,000 passenger trips. The light rail line serves critical healthcare nodes across Kaohsiung, including Kaohsiung Municipal United Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital, and the Department of Health.

Student commuting routes also posted strong momentum. Passenger journeys taken by students reached 1.47 million, representing an 11.09% increase compared to the previous year. These figures demonstrate that the completed circular loop now serves as a reliable transit backbone for local schools, colleges, and medical infrastructure.

Major Sightseeing Hotspots and Weekend Traffic

For travellers exploring Kaohsiung, the light rail connects many of the city's premier leisure districts. Stations serving key tourist landmarks recorded 2.31 million cumulative trips in the first half of 2026. Major stops on this coastal circuit include Dream Mall, Pier-2 Art Center, Kaohsiung Port Traveler Center, and Asia New Bay Area.

Weekend tourism traffic was particularly robust, averaging 51,000 passengers per day on weekends and public holidays—a 12.85% growth compared to the same period in the prior year. In February 2026, driven by major public events such as the Winter Carnival, single-day weekend patronage surpassed 53,000 passenger journeys. The scenic coastal layout makes organising a leisurely weekend tour exceptionally straightforward.

Seamless Interchange with Metro and Taiwan Railway Networks

The completion of the full circular loop line has significantly boosted transport efficiency across Kaohsiung's broader transit grid. Major interchange hubs connecting the light rail with the Kaohsiung Metro network recorded 1.66 million passengers. Key transfer stops include C3 Cianjhen Star Station, C14 Hamasen Station, and C24 Heart of Love River Station. Notably, C24 Heart of Love River Station retained its position as the busiest stop across the entire light rail system.

Interchanges connecting with Taiwan Railway train services also experienced steady growth. The three principal train transfer hubs—C18 Gushan Station, C20 TRA Museum of Fine Arts Station, and C30 Science and Technology Museum Station—handled 443,000 passenger trips. Combined, these six major interchange stations accounted for 2.11 million trips, up by 86,000 passengers from the previous year, demonstrating the success of Kaohsiung's interconnected rail system.

Practical Tips

* Payment Methods: Passengers can tap on and tap off at platform validators or inside carriages using contactless smartcards (such as EasyCard or iPASS) or mobile payment applications.

* Key Transfer Hubs: Use C24 Heart of Love River Station to transfer directly to the Kaohsiung Metro Red Line, or C14 Hamasen Station for the Kaohsiung Metro Orange Line.

* Sightseeing Access: Board the light rail to visit iconic waterfront attractions, including Pier-2 Art Center, Asia New Bay Area, and Dream Mall without needing taxi services.

* Rail Connections: To connect with regional Taiwan Railway passenger trains, interchange at C18 Gushan Station, C20 TRA Museum of Fine Arts Station, or C30 Science and Technology Museum Station.