TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The transport ministry said on Wednesday that Taiwan High Speed Rail carried 78.25 million passengers last year. 

The ministry said the ridership set a record for the 18-year-old service, a 7% increase from the previous year, per CNA.

Taipei Station had the highest passenger volume, with around 16.4 million entering and 16.96 million exiting. Taichung Station was second, with approximately 13.24 million passengers entering and exiting.

Zuoying Station surpassed 10 million passengers for both entries and exits for the first time, with about 10.47 million entering and 10.43 million exiting.

Nangang Station had the highest growth in passenger traffic, with around 3.91 million entering and about 3.41 million exiting. Tainan Station also had entries rise from 4.81 million in 2023 to around 5.31 million, and exits increased from 4.77 million to 5.26 million.

Only Changhua Station had fewer than 1 million passengers, with 890,000 entries and exits, a 7% increase from 2023. Miaoli Station saw an 8% increase from the previous year, with 1.18 million entering and 1.19 million exiting.

Tourism Administration Director-General Chou Yung-hui (周永暉) announced Wednesday that the THSR's "buy one, get one free" ticket promotion for foreign tourists traveling to central and southern Taiwan will continue through the end of the year.

Taipei Station first surpassed 10 million passengers in 2010, and Taichung Station reached that mark in 2017. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both stations saw ridership fall below 10 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively.