Tainan Travel

Small and old station. atmosphere is good. but this station don't have an escalator or lift. If you have a heavy, large package, you will have a hard time climbing the stairs.

There's a man who lives in the station. His fiancee was supposed to meet him there in the 1980s, but she never showed up. He's still there waiting for her. Very interesting place to meet people like him there.

Look for the lime green color and the "i" for information. The day we inquired we were given very good directions for both an ATM machine and a bus stop. The ticket sellers speak fine English and were helpful in what I needed to get done there. As another reviewer noted there are only two platforms for trains, and the workers at the station will tell you which platform to go to. The main building is currently under construction with tarps over it (like half of the things we wanted to see in Tainan.) This station is relatively small compared to other major cities in Taiwan. You won't want to hang around here for very long. Food and seating options are limited -- although we found seating easily on a Sunday once we went through the ticket checker to platform number one. Overall, a fine experience.

Tainan Station is the old-fashioned, low-speed/commuter (TRA) train hub for trains bound for numerous points North and South. Despite sleek new modern signage in both English amd Chinese, this station (especially the Rear Station entrance nearest to the Shangri-la Hotel) is not at all traveler friendly and has numerous concrete stairs and fairly steep slopes to navigate—especially difficult with large luggage and/or at peak times. (Unless traveling light, consider the (free?) shuttle bus or hire a taxi directly over to the HSR). There is a staffed ticket window inside the Rear Station which will sell you a diminutive sized ticket (25NT$/<$1 each way) to Shalun/Tainan HSR. The ticket features a magnetic strip which you will insert into the front of a turnstile (into what looks rather like a monetary bill feeder), the turnstile’s gate will then open, and your ticket will be presented back to you via a slot on top of the turnstile as you pass through and enter the station proper. Note: You will basically repeat this same process again at the exit turnstile where the ticket will be retained, so please do safeguard your little ticket and please keep it readily at hand for smoothest/fastest transit through the turnstiles. Once at Shalun TRA Station, you will simply follow clearly visible signs (and fellow travelers) to enter the adjoining and very modern Tainan HSR station. Once inside, just take the escalator (or elevator) downstairs and turn left to find clearly marked ticket lines for “Today’s Ticket” purchase on the HSR to all major cities North or South. Tip1: there are numerous trains departing every few minutes, but from the moment of your ticket purchase, to go upstairs via the escalator, pass through the HSR turnstile, and proceed onward to the next, larger escalator and then finally to your destination HSR platform to await boarding takes < 5 minutes. Tip2: if you want any cold water, soda, juice, or beer you should purchase it at 7-11 at top of first escalator above the HSR ticket counter. (HSR Train’s on board vendor passes through the cars with a little cart, but has a very limited selection of hot and room temperature Asian beverages). *TRA train to/from Shalun does not offer (nor permit consumption of?) any refreshments on board.

Many modern trains stop here. But the station remains behind time. Indeed, the station itself is a historical monument. Right now the innovation work is in progress, and in 2021 we can see a totally innovated station.