Taichung→TRA Hualien Station
Our drivers are highly recommended by locals and foreign tourists
Distance：324 km ｜Travel time：348 mins
fare estimation
Taichung to TRA Hualien Station - rent a car with driver
Tripool offers private transfers and shared rides across Taiwan, including from Taichung to TRA Hualien Station or anywhere in Hualien County. Whether your trip to Hualien City is for sightseeing (Dongdamen Night Market, 花蓮美術館 Hualien Art Museum, Turumoan Whale Cultural Museum) or for an overnight stay (Hotel Les Champs Hualien, Echo Villa, Mini Voyage Hostel), we can arrange sedans, SUVs, 9-seater vans, or even mid-size buses to match your needs, saving you both the hassle of transfers at TRA Hualien Station and unnecessary extra expenses. But if you plan to switch to public transportation after arriving at TRA Hualien Station to continue to another county, let us help you calculate something you may not have thought about before—your hidden time cost. After all, your journey doesn’t really end at the station, does it? The traditional way of thinking is: “Home → Station A → Station B → Final Destination.” While the trip looks like it’s broken into sections, the actual total time you spend is the sum of all travel time plus all waiting and transfer time. Especially when your true destination is within about two hours or 150 kilometers of your departure point, the accumulated time spent going to the station, waiting in advance, and then catching a taxi or bus after getting off can easily exceed 90 minutes. At that point, a smarter choice is to go directly from Taichung straight to your final destination. That’s exactly what Tripool’s long-distance private transfer service was designed for. Instead of booking a ride just to the station, enter your real destination or address on our website, and you’ll be surprised—when you skip all the complicated transfers and ride with Tripool directly, not only is the total travel time shorter and the ride more comfortable, but for groups of two or more, the total cost may even be cheaper than buying multiple HSR tickets plus several taxi fares. So next time you’re heading to the station, ask yourself: are you really going to the station, or to your destination? Let Tripool’s efficient point-to-point service give you a smarter journey that saves both time and money.
After analyzing the available data, we found the following alternatives to private charters or transfers. For the journey from Taichung to TRA Hualien Station, the fastest land transportation is high-speed rail, but if you do not want to spend a lot of money, a car rental 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. Furthermore, for solo travelers willing to sacrifice a bit of travel time in exchange for a convenient and affordable door-to-door service, we recommend considering Tripool's carpool.
- 1–8 passengers
- Truly pickup anywhere
- Ride guaranteed
- No hidden fees
- Pre-booking only
- No cash
- Comfortable seating
- No time wasted
- Tickets often sold out in peak season
- Multiple transfers needed
- Higher fare
- 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
- Usually limited to 4 passengers
- Higher price
- Risk of overcharging
| Item | tripool | HSR | Car Rental | Taxi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Time | 350 mins | 340 mins | 380-410 mins | 355-365 mins |
| Price per Person | NT$2,530/person | NT$2,580/person | NT$1,470/person | NT$2,720-3,270/person |
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Whether you're on a business trip or a family getaway, book your round-trip in one go and save more effortlessly!
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
- 國立臺灣師範大學
- 遠東新世紀股份有限公司
- 保瑞藥業股份有限公司
- 中鼎工程股份有限公司
- 強茂股份有限公司
- 三商電腦
- 日揚科技股份有限公司
- 國立臺北大學
- 新天地國際實業股份有限公司
- 美時化學製藥股份有限公司
TRA Hualien Station private Transfer FAQs
- Passengers can request additional stops for a ride from Taichung to TRA Hualien Station. Every 5 km of additional distance for a stop charges NT$200, whether it is along the way or not. It's necessary for the driver's extra time.
- To take the High Speed Rail (HSR) from downtown Taichung to TRA Hualien Station, HSR is quick but pricey. From the earliest departure at 06:05 to the latest at 23:03, there are up to 103 high-speed rail from Taichung to Nangang each day. Assuming you depart from Xitun District, Taichung City and head to the nearest Taichung HSR station, a taxi ride would cost about NT$300 and take approximately 20 minutes. After arriving at the HSR station, the time to walk in, purchase tickets, and wait on the platform is about 20 minutes. Then, take a 54-81-minute (68 min on average) HSR ride from Taichung Station to Nangang HSR Station. The ticket price is NT$750 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 224 minutes with a fare of NT$5,200, you will arrive at your destination at TRA Hualien Station (Hualien City, Hualien County). The entire journey, including transfers, takes a total of 5 hours and 39 minutes. Assuming 3 people traveling together, the average cost per person for the HSR and transfers is NT$2,580. That said, a minority of taxi drivers in Taichung City 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$2,530, and the journey takes 5 hours and 48 minutes. For long-distance travel, the HSR is indeed faster than a car by 9 minutes, but it comes with an extra transportation cost of about NT$150. Therefore, for those who are not in a major hurry, booking with Tripool is the more cost-effective option. 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 driver's license, do not mind driving yourself, and you do not need to use the travel time to rest in the car, there are about 60 rental car companies, such as 展逸軒小客車租賃, 愛旺租車, 展運租車, available in the Xitun District, Taichung City area. Typically, car rentals are billed by the day. A small sedan like a Toyota Corolla or Ford Fiesta costs around NT$1500 per day, while a 9-seater van like a Hyundai Staria or Volkswagen Caravelle starts at NT$4500 per day. Extra costs such as fuel (approx. NT$3/km), eTag tolls (approx. NT$1/km), roadside parking (approx. NT$40/hour), insurance, and potential fines are not included. Most rental agreements specify a daily mileage limit of 200-400 km, with surcharges ranging from NT$100 to NT$2,000 for exceeding it. Since the vast majority of rental companies do not offer one-way rentals, assuming you make a same-day round trip between Taichung (Xitun District) and TRA Hualien Station, the estimated cost for a sedan is NT$4400 or NT$7400 for a 9-seater van. This is, of course, cheaper than taking a taxi. But if you are going to TRA Hualien Station to take public transport elsewhere, renting a car for the whole day and paying for parking at the station is not cheap. Moreover, the rental location may be some distance from your home/office/starting point, and you must adhere to their business hours for pickup and return. The rental process itself is tedious, often taking an extra 30 minutes for contracts and vehicle inspection. You may even need to refuel the car yourself before returning. If you encounter a dishonest operator, you risk being hit with various unjustified charges upon return.
- If you choose to take a taxi directly, in the Taichung City area, you can use apps to hail a cab from 55688 Taiwan Taxi, Uber, Line Go, Yoxi, etc., and if you cannot hail a cab on the street, you can also consider calling taxi fleets, such as 大都會衛星計程車, 聯美汽車行, TND皇家多元化計程車 to try to book a ride. Based on the meter, the estimated fare is between NT$8,150 and 9,800, but you could save up to NT$2,200 by booking with Tripool instead. However, when considering the return trip, in Hualien County there are only about 1,010 licensed taxis. This is about 10% of the number of taxis in Taichung City, and its density is just 0.5% of the Taipei/New Taipei metro area, making it 190 times more difficult to hail a cab there. Furthermore, some taxi drivers in Taichung City flat-out refuse to use the meter. Nearly 27% 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 Taichung to TRA Hualien Station in terms of both price and service quality.
- According to the law in Taiwan, all passengers have to fasten seat belts, no matter what ages they are. For a baby below 4-year-old or a young child who cannot comfortably be on the seat with a seat belt, it is necessary to use a car seat or a safety booster. There is a check box for renting a baby car seat or a child safety booster on the check-out page. Each rental fee is NT$300. If you need multiple car seats/boosters or you need an infant car seat, please check with our online customer service first. Tripool encourages parents to bring their car seats and boosters, and, of course, it is free of charge.
- 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.
- In common, a 9-seater van can accommodate eight passengers with six 30" luggage. Suppose there are fewer passengers in the car. In that case, our driver can fold down the rear seats. There will be more space for oversized objects, such as surfboards, golf clubs, instruments, foldable bikes, desktop computers, etc. As long as these objects won't block the driver's sight and do no damage to the car body, passengers can put as many luggage and items as they like. But extra charge may be needed. You can find the details in the FAQ section. We suggest measuring the size, telling how many items to our online service first, and making the order afterward.
Besides from Taichung to TRA Hualien Station , there are other popular routes, such as…
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Distance：324 km ｜Travel time：348 mins
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