Originally Posted by
sinoflyer
Having done this trip just recently (TPE to Tainan, using Taoyuan MRT to get to the Taoyuan HSR station), I would recommend sticking with the old city bus (NT35* I think) to get from the airport terminal to the HSR station. When I took the MRT, I found out that only the local train runs to the HSR station. It is slow** (many stops), and the headway was maddeningly long (I waited for basically the maximum 30 minutes for the next train--heard the "beep beep beep" of the slamming gates just as I was descending the escalator to the platform). Another frustrating thing about how Taoyuan MRT has been managed so far is that it does not have a published schedule other than the first and last departure times of the day. Until the entire Taoyuan MRT line is completed, and that it operates at the promised frequency, I personally will use the bus to the HSR station. YMMV of course.
* Must buy the bus ticket at the operating company's ticket booth, not on the bus -- sorry I don't remember which bus company it is.
I'm just replying for the benefit of people searching this thread later
The airport MRT line operates every 7.5 minutes with express and local trains alternating. The airport to HSR station portion is only operated by the local train so the service interval is 15 minutes.
The airport to HSR station bus is operated by UBus line 705. Purchase the ticket at UBus counter at the airport bus transit centers located at each terminal.
Map and fare info:
UBus ticket counter at Terminal 2 bus transit center
705 bus bay at terminal 1
705 bus bay at Taoyuan HSR station
