Alishan→TRA Taichung Station
Don't waste your precious holiday on public transit
Distance：159 km ｜Travel time：191 mins
fare estimation
Alishan to TRA Taichung Station - rent a car with driver
After a full day at Alishan in Chiayi County, surrounded by fresh forest air or breathtaking views, the fatigue soon begins to set in. With your hands full of local specialties and souvenirs, all you want is to reach TRA Taichung Station quickly and board a comfortable train or HSR home. Yet, the return trip from many scenic areas is often the most uncertain part of the journey. Buses run infrequently with long intervals, and missing one could mean waiting an extra one or two hours in the mountains—disrupting your schedule and dampening the joy of the day. Taxis can be difficult to find in remote areas, and when you do, unreasonable fares are not uncommon. Don’t let return transportation problems spoil your perfect day trip. Tripool offers pre-booked transfers from Alishan or nearby spots like Alishan Visitor Center, YUYUPAS Cultural Park, Tashan Trail straight to TRA Taichung Station. Before you finish sightseeing, simply book through our mobile app, and our professional drivers will arrive at the agreed time. You and your companions can rest your tired bodies in our 100% smoke-free vehicles while safely storing your souvenirs in the spacious trunk. The ride from the scenic spot to the station takes about 190 minutes—just enough time to relax and revisit the day’s photos. With fares starting from NT$3800 and transparent online quotes, Tripool takes the fatigue off your shoulders and ensures you reach your train calmly, on time, and ready for the journey home.
After analyzing the available data, we found the following alternatives to private charters or transfers. For the journey from Alishan to TRA Taichung Station, the fastest land transportation is Tripool private car transfer, but if you want a more budget-friendly choice, an iRent is the most cost-saving option for a group of 3-8 people. The data in the following table is based on a party of 3 and compares the pros and cons of a private car transfer, car rental, taxi, and high-speed rail. For a more complete analysis of transportation costs and time, please see the FAQ below. Additionally, for single travelers, Tripool also provides door-to-door carpooling service.
- 1–8 passengers
- Truly pickup anywhere
- Ride guaranteed
- No hidden fees
- Pre-booking only
- No cash
- Comfortable seating
- Tickets often sold out in peak season
- Multiple transfers needed
- Takes time and costs more
- Low-cost
- Flexible schedule
- Extra commute to car pick-up
- Time restrictions for pick-up and return
- Additional risk involved
- Requires same-day return or a multi-day rental
- Meets urgent needs
- No upfront payment
- Inconsistent quality
- Difficult to find a ride
- Risk of overcharging
| Item | tripool | HSR | Car Rental | Taxi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Time | 190 mins | - | 195-220 mins | 205-220 mins |
| Price per Person | NT$1,270/person | NT$1,380/person | NT$820-1,050/person | NT$1,090-1,630/person |
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About tripool
tripool is a licensed smart ride platform offering shared rides, point-to-point transfers, charter services, and airport pickups. Whether you're traveling solo or with family, you’ll always find the most suitable way to get around.
In addition to Taiwan, we also offer airport transfers and private tours in Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand — ensuring your journey stays smooth and worry-free from the moment you land.
Save Up to 40%Our smart dispatch system reduces empty trips, helping you save up to 40% on fares—saving both money and time.
Flexible Cancellation, Zero StressPlans changed? No worries. Cancel within the allowed time and receive a full refund—completely stress-free.
Trusted by Real UsersEvery driver is carefully selected and trained. With over 500,000 rides served and a 99% satisfaction rate, we’ve earned travelers’ trust across Asia.
Our vehicles
5-Seater Sedan
Toyota Altis or similar
7-Seater MPV
Toyota Corolla Cross, RAV4, or similar
9-Seater Van
Volkswagen Caravelle, Ford Tourneo or similar
Trusted by industry leaders
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- 格斯科技
- 群創光電股份有限公司
- 凌巨科技股份有限公司
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TRA Taichung Station private Transfer FAQs
- To take the High Speed Rail (HSR) from Alishan to TRA Taichung Station, HSR is expensive, slow, and has difficult taxi access. From the earliest departure at 06:21 to the latest at 23:27, there are up to 60 high-speed rail from Chiayi to Taichung each day. Assuming you depart from Alishan (Alishan Township, Chiayi County) and head to the nearest Chiayi HSR station, a taxi ride would cost about NT$2,600 and take approximately 142 minutes. After arriving at the HSR station, the time to walk in, purchase tickets, and wait on the platform is about 15 minutes. Then, take a 22-35-minute (28 min on average) HSR ride from Chiayi Station to Taichung HSR Station. The ticket price is NT$380 per person, followed by a 10-minute walk to exit the station, wait for a ride at the taxi stand, and after a trip of about 32 minutes with a fare of NT$400, you will arrive at your destination at TRA Taichung Station (East District, Taichung City). The entire journey, including transfers, takes a total of 3 hours and 47 minutes. Assuming 3 people traveling together, the average cost per person for the HSR and transfers is NT$1,380. However, in Chiayi County, there are only just over 300 licensed taxis. The taxi density is 0.4% of that in the Taipei/New Taipei metro area. In other words, hailing a taxi on the spot is 200 times more difficult than in a major city like Taipei, and since Alishan is not located in a downtown area, it may be impossible to find a taxi at all. Even if you are lucky enough to hail a cab, a minority of taxi drivers in Chiayi County may not use the meter, and might overcharge or take detours, especially with passengers who appear to be from out of town. In contrast, if you use Tripool for a door-to-door private car service, the average cost per person is about NT$1,270, and the journey takes 3 hours and 11 minutes. Choosing the HSR over a private charter will not only cost each person at least an extra NT$110 in fares but also waste an additional 36 minutes on transfers and waiting. Book with Tripool now! If you are traveling with just one other person, you can also consider Tripool's carpooling service to save up to an additional 50% on transportation costs.
- If you have a Taiwanese driver's license, are confident in your driving skills, and you do not need to rest in the car (since you will be the one driving), and most importantly, if you plan to make a same-day round trip, then iRent, which allows you to pick up and drop off a car on the street in the Chiayi County area, is likely your cheapest option. After registering on the iRent app, you can rent a small car for NT$115-205 per hour with an additional charge of NT$3.2 per kilometer. The estimated cost from Alishan to TRA Taichung Station is between NT$2450 and NT$3150 (the price difference depends on weekday/weekend rates, car model, and how soon you make the return trip after reaching your destination). Although the estimate already includes potential eTag tolls and a roadside parking fee of NT$40 per hour, you are responsible for any additional car insurance and potential traffic fines. Furthermore, iRent by Hotai only offers basic models like the Toyota Yaris, Prius C, and Vios—functional, yes, but far from the comfort you'd expect for anything beyond a grocery run. If your group has more than four people, larger 7-seater or 9-seater vehicles are not available. Moreover, the most common complaint about self-service car-sharing services is the vehicle's condition; you might open the door to find trash left by the previous user or unrepaired dents. Every rental feels like opening a blind box—sometimes fine, sometimes frustrating. Additionally, you might occasionally face issues like the previous user not returning the car on time for your reservation, or being unable to find a parking spot when you need to return it. This poses a significant risk for those in a hurry or traveling with other passengers. Finally, while picking up and dropping off the car on the street seems convenient, it is restricted to specific operational zones. The available parking spots may still be some distance away from your actual departure or arrival point, making it very inconvenient in rainy weather or when carrying luggage.
- If you choose to take a taxi directly, in the Chiayi County area, you can use apps to hail a cab from 55688 Taiwan Taxi. Based on the meter, the estimated fare is between NT$3,255 and 4,900, but you could save up to NT$1,100 by booking with Tripool instead. But if you cannot book in advance or prefer to hail a cab on the spot, be aware that in the whole Chiayi County, there are only about 330 licensed taxis. The taxi density is just 0.4% of that in the Taipei/New Taipei metro area, meaning it is 200 times more difficult to hail a cab on the spot compared to Taipei or New Taipei. Furthermore, some taxi drivers in Chiayi County flat-out refuse to use the meter. Nearly 47% of them will try to negotiate the fare on the spot—often asking far above the standard rate. If you’re not familiar with local pricing, you are an easy target. To avoid getting ripped off, it is strongly advised to book online in advance. Considering all factors, Tripool is your best choice for traveling from Alishan to TRA Taichung Station in terms of both price and service quality.
- Once the booking process is completed and getting an order ID, the reservation is confirmed. Tripool promises a private car will pick passengers up on time. All the essential information, such as the driver's name, mobile number, car model, and car plate number, will be sent via SMS and email. If the driver is not at the pick-up location, passengers can contact the driver via mobile phone. The driver may be away due to a lack of parking space and waiting nearby. Suppose there is some serious emergency or traffic jam to delay the trip. In that case, tripool will rearrange a driver to reduce passengers' waiting time.
- The quote on the website and the app already include the car rental fee, driver's fare, cost of gasoline, toll fee, insurance, and tips. Passengers don't have to pay for the driver's meals and accommodation fees. There is no other hidden fee. What passengers see on the website is the actual price.
- There are many gypsy cabs or illegal taxis in Line and Facebook groups. Their fares are cheap but with many risks. If the cabs are pulled over by polices, passengers cannot continue the trip. If there is an accident, none of the insurance companies will settle a claim. Worst of all, illegal drivers may conduct crimes without any trace. Don't put your life at risk for just saving a few bucks. On the other hand, tripool contracts with legal drivers without any criminal record. All vehicles provide up to $5 million in insurance. The easiest way to distinguish a legal vehicle is the car plate number. Unless the initial character of the car plate number is either T or R, the car is 100% illegal for taxi service.
- Tripool will send a receipt through the third-party system one week after the ride. If passengers need to claim reimbursement for travel expenses, there is a blank to fill with the company's title and tax ID. It's legal, and there is no extra 5% for the receipt. Once the receipt is received via email, it can be printed out for reimbursement or saved as a PDF.
- Passengers can hire a driver on tripool website and app from your doorstep to anywhere accessible by a vehicle. Whether daytime, nighttime, or even midnight, we guarantee there will be a car waiting for you at the pickup location as making a reservation one day before by 6 pm.
Besides from Alishan to TRA Taichung Station , there are other popular routes, such as…
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Distance：159 km ｜Travel time：191 mins
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