Taiwan's Lunar New Year travel rush is already underway, with airports and rail links preparing for big crowds.
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00:00The Lunar New Year break doesn't officially start until Saturday, but this crowd of travelers
00:06hasn't waited.
00:08For many, this is a popular, if pricey, time to do some sightseeing or shopping abroad.
00:13But as everyone who travels this time of year knows, it's important to hit the road early
00:18to beat the traffic, and for air travelers, the seemingly endless security lines.
00:23At Taiwan's main international airport in Taoyuan, some people are even arriving half
00:28a day before their flights.
00:33The airport metro line alone expects to carry an average of 145,000 passengers a day over
00:39the coming nine days of vacation.
00:42Those traveling domestically will face an even bigger crush.
00:46This is a time of year for visiting family and hometowns, and trains especially fill
00:51up to bursting.
00:52The rail network is trying to cope by increasing services.
00:57Meanwhile, the high-speed rail has a new strategy.
01:00Last year, there was some unpleasantness on this fast line linking Taiwan's main cities
01:04along the west coast as people squeezed in and competed for non-reserved seats.
01:10And this year, the line expects to carry over 1.3 million passengers during the break.
01:15So if crowds start to overflow this year, it will encourage passengers to use slower
01:20trains or buses instead.
01:22It's setting up a center in Taichung Station, roughly the halfway point on the line, that
01:27will direct passengers to other transport options.
01:31Some travelers think it's a good idea.
01:38But giving up on the fast train could mean adding hours onto the journey, especially
01:42with traffic on the highways.
01:44And so some are skeptical of the plan.
01:57It will be early February before things return to normal in the skies and on the rails and
02:01roads.
02:02Until then, travelers can expect lines, jams, and the need for an extra bit of patience
02:08on their journey.
02:09Luffy Lee and John Van Triest for Taiwan Plus.
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