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Taiwan

Kaohsiung

A port city in southern Taiwan. The light rail circles the city centre, and the MRT runs straight to the airport.

Kaohsiung Circular Light Rail (高雄環狀輕軌)

No ticket gates here - tap the platform validator before boarding and again after getting off. Miss that second tap and the card locks, costing NT$55 next time. The MRT's bank-card tap doesn't work here.

Updated 17 days ago

How to ride

  1. 1
    Get coins or an IC card ready
    The single-ticket machines take coins only. With an iPASS, EasyCard or icash you can just ride.
  2. 2
    Tap the platform validator before boarding
    Hold an IC card below the screen, or a QR ride code above it. This is what replaces a ticket gate.
  3. 3
    Press the door button yourself
    Once the train stops, riders getting on and off both press the button by the door - it does not open on its own.
  4. 4
    Tap again after you get off
    Always tap before you leave the platform - skip it and your card gets locked.
  5. 5
    Changing direction needs no extra tap
    To ride the other way, cross at the street crossing to the opposite platform - no need to tap out and in.

Fares

Single fares1

Single ride (by distance)
NT$20 up to 5 km, plus 5 for every extra 2 km, flat 35 beyond 9 km - identical by IC card, QR or paper ticket.
20〜35 TWD ≈ $0.6–1

Passes & multi-ride4

MeN Go travel pass (physical card)
24, 48 or 72 hours, covering the light rail plus the MRT and city buses. Sold at MRT station service counters.
299〜499 TWD ≈ $9–16
MeN Go travel pass (QR version)
Same coverage for NT$100 less, but it is sold only through the MeN Go site and app.
199〜399 TWD ≈ $6–13
MRT + light rail 1-day pass (QR)
Sold online only, not at stations; a calendar day rather than 24 hours, ending with that day's service.
200 TWD ≈ $6
MRT + light rail 2-day pass (QR)
Also online only; activated at the QR reader on an MRT gate - the light rail validators cannot open it.
325 TWD ≈ $10

Card itself1

iPASS card purchase (empty card)
A one-off purchase rather than a deposit - the NT$100 is never refunded.
100 TWD ≈ $3

Estimates use exchange rates as of September 5, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
Tap-to-ride works on the MRT but not here, wallets included.
Card payment at machines
The single-ticket machines do not take cards.
IC card
At the gates: iPASS, EasyCard and icash - tap the platform validator on entry and exit alike.
App tickets
iPASS MONEYMeNGo
QR ticketing Issued under iPASS and Taiwanese bank rules.
At the gates: iPASS MONEY and TWQR ride codes - hold them above the validator screen.
Paper tickets
At machines: Single tickets from the machines, one per person, valid 120 minutes.
Cash
At machines: The ticket machines take coins only - no banknotes.

Quick facts

Hours
From 06:30; last trains around 23:00
Frequency
Every 10 min at peak, 15 min otherwise
Fares from
20 TWD+

Heads-up

  • Miss the tap-out and it costs NT$55

    Forget to tap out and your IC card locks. The next operating day, tapping in on the light rail deducts a NT$55 special-entry charge and clears the lock at the same time. To clear it without riding, use the unlocking validators at MRT stations R6 Kaisyuan, R11 Kaohsiung Main Station, R13 Aozihdi, R16 Zuoying, O1 Hamasen and O8 Wukuaicuo.

  • The 1- and 2-day passes are the exception

    The MRT + light rail 1-day and 2-day QR passes are the one exception: on the light rail you do not tap the validator, you show the screen when an inspector asks.

Timetable

Operating hours From 06:30; last trains around 23:00
Typical duration A loop line that strings together the Pier-2 Art Center, Hamasen, the Love River and the art museum - much of the ride is the sightseeing
Check the official site for the latest times and service status