Taipei:Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp's (THSRC) upcoming trains could initiate a pilot program for family cars and broader use of senior citizen cards, Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai announced.

According to Focus Taiwan, during a legislative session, opposition Kuomintang lawmaker Yu Hao raised concerns after parents reported being asked to manage noisy children and relocate them from carriages. Chen confirmed discussions with THSRC about the proposal but noted existing train space limitations. He acknowledged concerns about children potentially moving to other cars and disturbing passengers, yet deemed the pilot "well worth" pursuing. With the introduction of THSRC's new N700ST trains expected in July 2027, and increased capacity, the ministry aims to launch the trial swiftly.

Initially, three new trains will commence service, with 12 more planned by the end of 2028, enhancing capacity further. Premier Cho Jung-tai mentioned that if capacity allows, a dedicated family car might be feasible during off-peak times.

In another exchange, Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Chang Hung-lu advocated for senior citizen cards to be accepted on THSR, similar to their acceptance by Taiwan Railways since 2023. Although Chen noted the high fares on THSR, he indicated that discussions with THSRC are underway to enable card use post-capacity enhancement with the new trains. The ministry plans to integrate necessary ticketing systems in advance.

Cho emphasized completing ticketing infrastructure and software improvements before the arrival of the new trains and collaborating with THSRC to establish practical rules for card usage.