Notice to Travelers ｜Kaohsiung Metro

I. General Rules

1. Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation (abbreviated “KRTC”) has formulated these Passenger Regulations in accordance with the Rules Governing Transport of Passengers on Mass Rapid Transit Systems in Kaohsiung City. These Passenger Regulations, including any amendments thereto, are publicized in all KRTC stations.

2. The terms used in these Passenger Regulations are defined below:

(1) MRT premises: Areas within the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit System network operated by KRTC, including all railway routes, depots, stations and trains.

(2) Station premises: Areas within the station entrances operated by KRTC, excluding passageways open for all day public access.

(3) Paid area: Areas within the station premises where passengers entered after verification of a valid ticket at a fixed (or mobile) automatic ticket gate or by station staff.

(4) Tickets: Vouchers are approved by KRTC for use in entering into and leaving the paid area.

(5) KRTC Points: Credit points were pre-deposited in specific ticket types, or transferred as concessionary fare, issued during promotional activities. Within the valid period, KRTC points are deducted in priority as concessionary fare when used for taking ride. KRTC points shall not be treated as stored value and are not refundable.

(6) Overtime fee: A fee should be paid for the limit of duration between entering into and leaving the paid area. Overtime fee shall be the minimum single journey fare promulgated by KRTC.

(7) Without ticket: Passengers entered / left the paid area or travelled on the trains without a valid ticket, with a counterfeit ticket, or with a ticket that unmatched the identity of the passenger.

(8) Invalid ticket: Ticket with expired validity.

(9) Something wrong with ticket: Ticket cannot be used or verified by the automatic fare collecting system under normal operation.

(10) Cost of production: A fee to be paid for losing or damaging a single journey ticket (except Single Journey QR Code ticket) will be needed.

(11) Exit voucher: A voucher, issued to passengers for leaving the paid area under specific situations, is retrieved at the exit automatic ticket gate.

(12) Damage caused by human errors: Tickets with obvious surface scratches, bent, cut, perforation, surface attachments (unless approved by KRTC) or coating, fracture, broken or illegible surface appearance, have been concluded by KRTC as human errors.

(13) Operation suspension: A situation announced by KRTC with the effect of suspending the MRT operation in parts of routes, or closure of specific stations.

(14) Lost property: Objects are left behind by passengers within the MRT premises.

3. Unless guided by KRTC staff due to incidents or disasters, passengers are not allowed to enter areas of railway track or areas in the stations not for public access.

4. Passengers should enter into and leave the paid area through fixed (or mobile) automatic ticket gates with tickets approved by KRTC. Unless otherwise permitted by KRTC, passengers are not allowed to pass through the staff aisle.

5. Passengers using or operating equipment and facilities within MRT premises must follow the instructions and may not possess, damage, interfere or remove such equipment and facilities.

6. Passengers are not allowed to loiter in or about parts of the station premises and trains during non-service hours unless otherwise permitted by KRTC.

II. Ticket Types, Sales and Usage Regulations

A. Ticket Types and Sales

7. Tickets approved by KRTC are as follows:

(1) Single journey ticket (include Single Journey QR Code ticket) : Ticket issued by KRTC is valid only on the date of issue for passengers to enter into and leave the paid area through fixed (or mobile) automatic ticket gates.

(2) Paper tickets: Ticket issued by KRTC is valid on the date of issue or within a specified period for passengers to enter into and leave the paid area through designated aisle.

(3) IC cards : Cards issued by electronic stored value card issuers and approved by KRTC for passengers to enter into and leave the paid area through fixed (or mobile) automatic ticket gates.

(4) Periodic ticket: Tickets published or permitted by KRTC are able to ride Kaohsiung MRT or specific transportation within a valid period.

(5) Multiple Payment：Passengers choosing the payment tool (inductive credit card, NFC payment, QR code payment announced by KRTC),   and using credit card or electronic payment instrument with KRTC consent,   allow to enter and exit the paid area from automatic ticket gates.

(6) For other types of ticket, please refer to “Ticket Information” promulgated by KRTC.

8. Single journey ticket is sold at the station information counter, Automatic Ticket Issuing Machine (ATIM) or other locations designated by KRTC. Paper ticket is sold at the station information counter or other locations designated by KRTC. Periodic ticket must be activated at the station information counter.

    Please refer to the respective IC card issuers' bulletin for where to buy the IC cards. Please refer to KRTC's “Ticket Information” for the sale and use of various types of tickets.

9. Passengers should check the change and the number of tickets at the time of purchase. A purchase certificate can be issued upon request at the time of purchase from the information counter. KRTC may refuse to issue the purchase certificate after the passenger had left the information counter.

B. Ticket Usage Regulations

10. All passengers shall pay the full fare refer to the fare table promulgated by KRTC. Children under 6 years old (over 115cm tall should present proper identification) can take a free ride when accompanied by passengers with valid tickets.

11. Except for group tickets or children under 6 years old, each passenger should hold one ticket when entering/leaving the paid area or travelling on the trains. Violators shall be deemed to be without tickets and will be sanctioned pursuant to Article 49 of the Mass Rapid Transit Act.

12. When passengers use the IC card, the minimum stored value must not be less than NT$ 1 or 1 KRTC point, inclusive of being NT$ 0 or more when entering the paid area.

13. Except for the things attributable to KRTC, the fares and duration of entry and exit to the paid area are as follows:

(1) Passengers entering into and leaving different stations can stay 2 hours. If you stay over 2 hours, an overtime fee will be extra levied at the station information counter or automatic ticket gates.

(2) Passengers entering into and leaving the same station within 15 minutes should pay the minimum single journey fare except for the Formosa Boulevard station. Over 15 minutes at the same station, the minimum single journey fare should be paid and overtime fee should be levied at the station information counter or automatic ticket gates.

    (Passengers enter and exit from the Formosa Boulevard station may stay within 15 minutes without a charge. For those who stay exceed 15 minutes need to pay for the minimum single journey fare plus an overtime fee at the station information counter or to be deducted automatically from an automatic ticket gates).

(3) Passengers should pay the fare referring to the fare table promulgated by KRTC when entering the paid area. Passengers may contact station staff for assistance under special circumstances (e.g. make use of the restroom).

(4) Passengers cannot exit the station for some reasons should exit the paid area within 10 minutes after obtaining an exit voucher from the station staff. An overtime fee will be charged for stay over 10 minutes.

14. After confirmed by the station staff, the passengers with a valid ticket and could not enter into or leave the paid area:

(1) If the passenger had taken the ride, they should pay an overtime fee and the original fare.

(2) If the passenger has not taken the ride, and the time between enter and exit the station is within 15 minutes, the ticket will be adjusted with no charge. If the time between entering and exit the station is over 15 minutes, the passenger will be determined to enter and exit from the same station according to the 13th point of the regulations..

C. Regulations on Surcharge

15. Unless due to a cause attributable to KRTC, passengers who over-ride shall pay the difference at the station information counter.

16. Passengers losing the tickets during the journey should voluntarily settle the fare at the station information counter; a handling charge will be levied for single journey tickets (except Single Journey QR Code ticket).

           Passengers failing to voluntarily settle the fare shall be deemed to be without tickets and will be sanctioned pursuant to Article 49 of             the Mass Rapid Transit Act.

      Passengers having recovered the lost ticket may present the lost ticket and the receipt of fare surcharge for refund at the station information counter.

17. Passengers unable to pay the excess fare or penalty immediately must present identification and fill out a fare settlement form. Outstanding fare and surcharge must be paid at the specified place within the specified period. KRTC may take legal action to recover the fare if the passenger fails to complete the payment before the due date.

D. Tickets Refund and Tickets with human errors

18. Unless due to a cause attributable to KRTC or a notice promulgated by KRTC, tickets are not refundable once it is inducted or used. Once the periodic ticket is purchased or activated, it cannot be refunded or altered. Passengers who stop the ride may not request to refund the fare of untraveled journey.

19. Single journey ticket which is not inducted or used is refundable within 7 calendar days after purchase. If the ticket is considered to have damages with human errors, the passenger shall pay the cost of single journey ticket as handling charge (except Single Journey QR Code ticket). No refund will be made if the balance of the ticket is less than amount of handling charge.

20. Unused group ticket is refundable within 7 calendar days after purchase. No refund can be made if the ticket price or purchase date is illegible.

21. Passengers should apply for ticket refund at the station information counter. Refund can be made at the station information counter or at a designated location.

E. Other Regulations.

22. KRTC staff may request passengers to show their tickets for inspection, and may further request passengers who take ride with concessionary fare to present their identity documents for verification.
Passengers who refuse to show tickets or identity documents for inspection will be sanctioned pursuant to Article 50 of the Mass Rapid Transit Act.
Passengers who take ride without ticket, using invalid tickets or using a ticket that does not match the identity of the passenger will be sanctioned pursuant to Article 49 of the Mass Rapid Transit Act.

23. Passengers should use the tickets in good faith and may not falsify any record or data stored on the tickets.

24. When using IC cards, passengers should purchase, use, report lost and apply for refund according to the standard form contract promulgated by the respective IC card issuers.

III. Operation Suspension and Compensation for Trapped Passengers

25.  In situations where KRTC considers there is a risk of safety for passengers, or when approved by government authorities, the operation must be suspended with passengers evacuated from stations, public notices will be made at the relevant stations.

           KRTC may provide alternate shuttle service within the suspended service routes depending on the road safety.

      Passengers affected may apply for refund of actual fare paid within 7 calendar days from the day of operation suspension. Automatic ticket gates will automatically adjust the data on the tickets. Passengers may also bring the ticket to the station information counter to amend the ticket data.

26. Passengers trapped in the train or elevator due to system failure will be compensated with a One-Ride Free ticket for every 20 minutes delayed. Passengers trapped in the train or elevator due to operation suspension may ask for fare refund or amendment of ticket data pursuant to Article 25 of these Passenger Regulations.

27. When train delay or operation suspension is announced by KRTC, passengers may request for a delay certificate at the station information counter or download such certificate from the KRTC official website (www.krtc.com.tw).

IV. Lost Property

28. Passengers who have lost personal belongings within the MRT premises may fill out an enquiry form at the station information counter or call the Lost-and-Found Service Center for assistance to search for their lost objects.

29. Lost property picked up within the MRT premises should be handed in to the station information counter or to the Lost-and-Found Service Center. KRTC should issue a receipt stub to the person who hands in lost property. Lost property picked up outside the MRT premises should be handed over directly to the police department.

30. KRTC may dispose of the lost property that is rotten or stinking.

31. Person claiming lost property should prove ownership. If the claimer is not the owner, he/she shall present both identification of himself/herself and the owner.

32. KRTC handles lost property pursuant to law and will not be liable for any kind of indemnity whatsoever.

V. Limitations on Carry-on Objects

33. Luggage and possessions carried-on by passengers should comply with the following regulations:

(1) Carry-on objects may not be obstructive to other passengers, and must be supervise by carrying-passenger at all times.

(2) The length of each carry-on object may not exceed 165cm, and the sum of length, width and height may not exceed 220cm. This regulation, however, is not applicable to wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs, baby strollers, bicycles, pet strollers, and other permissible carry-on objects announced by KRTC.

(3) Animals may be brought into stations or onto trains in pet carriers with size limit pursuant to previous subparagraph or in pet strollers. The head, tail, and limbs of the animal may not be exposed outside the confines of the carriers or strollers.

                 The carriers or strollers should be well secured, free from any possibility of leakage of excrement or liquid.

     This regulation, however, does not apply to on-duty police dogs, qualified guide dogs, hearing dogs, or mobility assistance dogs accompanied by visual, auditory, or physical disabled passengers, and guide puppies, hearing puppies, or mobility assistance puppies escorted by professional training personnel.

(4) The maximum number of inflated balloons that can be brought onto the train by a passenger may not exceed 5. The longest side of any of the balloons may not exceed 50cm.

34. The following dangerous or inflammable objects are not allowed in MRT premises unless permission is granted by KRTC.

(1) Knives, scissors and other sharp objects. However, properly packaged items which do not violate the law nor represent any threat to the safety of others are not bound by this regulation.

(2) Firearms or ammunition. However, on-duty police or military personnel carrying firearms or ammunition are not bound by this regulation.

(3) Inflammable liquid with an ignition point below 60ºC, such as mineral oil, petroleum, benzene, toluene, methyl alcohol, ethanol (alcohol), acetone, ether, paint (oil-base plastic paint and soluble concrete paint), carbon disulfide and other inflammable liquid.

(4) Explosive materials, such as explosives, carbide, high-pressured gas (hydrogen, oxygen, propane, liquefied petroleum gas, acetylene), nitrocellulose, dinitrobenzene, dinitrotoluene, trinitrotoluene, dinitrophenol, trinitrophenol (picric acid), nitroglycol, nitroglycerine, nitric anhydride, organic peroxide compounds, dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) and other explosive substances.

(5) Inflammables, such as matches, explosives, metal sodium, potassium amalgam, magnesium powder, aluminum powder, yellow phosphorus, phosphorus sulfides, calcium phosphide, firework, firecrackers, isopropyl alcohol and other inflammable solids (matches and lighters for personal use are excluded).

(6) Substances that may cause harm to human body or other objects, such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, lead-acid batteries, chlorate (potassium, sodium and barium), perchlorate (ammonium, potassium and sodium), phosphorus chloride, sodium peroxide, barium peroxide, ammonium nitrate, bleach, insecticides, radioactive materials, cyanide and other substances harmful to human body.

35. When carry-ons are suspected of containing dangerous or inflammable objects, KRTC may demand a clarification from the carrier and perform an inspection. Persons refusing inspection will be considered as carrying dangerous or inflammable objects.

VI. Reasons for Refusal to Provide Transportation

36. KRTC may refuse to provide transportation services or cease provision of service under any of the following circumstances. KRTC staff may evict the violator from MRT premises with police enforcement. Passengers may request to refund the fare of untraveled journey.

(1) Breach of law, disruption of public order or good social practice, or in violation of these Passenger Regulations.

(2) Refusal of transportation service pursuant to law.

(3) Harass others or act in a manner that obviously appears to be harmful to others or to oneself.

(4) Be undressed, wear smelly clothes or bring stinking objects that may affect others or public hygiene.

(5) Violate the carry-on objects stipulation pursuant to these Passenger Regulations.

(6) Wear in-line skates, roller skates or ride on skateboards, foldable push scooters, or other similar devices in the stations or trains.

(7) Push or jostle others in the stations or trains, or affect the safety of others or oneself.

(8) Bring or ride vehicles, electric wheelchairs, electric scooters, or other similar motorized equipment that are not permissible and announced by KRTC. But passengers with disability certificate or others who get permission from KRTC may use regular wheelchairs or electric wheelchairs at a speed below 5 km/h in the stations.

(9) Violate the regulations of bringing bicycles promulgated by KRTC.

(10) Non Kaohsiung MRT personnel carry or use carts, trolleys or other similar instruments.

(11) Sit or lie on the carriage or the station floor, or on equipment or facilities..

(12) Other behavior or carry-ons that appear to hinder MRT system operation or affect the safety of other passengers.

VII. Penal Provisions

37. Pursuant to Article 49 of the Mass Rapid Transit Act:

(1) Passengers who take ride without ticket, using invalid ticket or use a ticket that does not match the identity of the passenger must pay the difference plus a penalty of 50 times the original fare.

(2) Should the above violators be unable to prove their departure station, their fine will be calculated based on the maximum single journey fare promulgated by KRTC.

38. Persons in breach of Articles 50 and 50-1 of the Mass Rapid Transit Act shall be reported to law enforcement. Those whose behavior involving criminal responsibility shall be transferred to the police.

VIII. Others

39.  Passengers who feel or fall ill en route may request KRTC staff to seek medical care on their behalf.

40.  Please refer any questions regarding IC cards to the respective IC card issuers.
Please refer any other queries or suggestions to the station information counter or call Customer Service at (07) 793-8888, or leave a message on the KRTC official website (www.krtc.com.tw).

41. Pursuant to Article 50 of the Mass Rapid Transit Act, The offender or driver will be subject to a fine of more than NT$1,500 and less than NT$7,500 in any of the following situations:

(1) Climbing onto, jumping off, or hanging over a moving train.

(2) Obstructing train doors or platform doors from closing, or opening them without permission.

(3) Non-mass rapid transit system personnel or vehicles that violate the second paragraph of Article 44 by trespassing on mass rapid transit tracks, bridges, tunnels or mass rapid transit premises not open to public access.

(4) Avoiding ticket procedures or use improper methods to enter/exit stations or get on/off trains.

(5) Refusing ticket checks conducted by mass rapid transit personnels or hindering their the performance of their duty.

(6) Remaining in the carriage when the train is not in service and disregarding requests to leave.

(7) Raising funds, distributing or posting advertisements, peddling goods, or conducting other commercial activities within carriages or stations without permission.

(8) Bringing animals into mass rapid transit stations or carriages without permission.

(9) Drinking, eating, chewing gum or betel nut ; spitting phlegm or betel nut juice; littering with cigarette butts, gum, food waste or other rubbish within the restriction areas of a mass rapid transit system.

(10) Hindering other passengers from passing through or using station entrances/exits, ticket-reading gates, ticket vending machines, escalators or other passages, and disregarding the requests to leave.

(11) Loitering in station concourses or platform areas for purposes other than taking trains, thereby hindering other passengers from passing and disregarding the requests to leave.

(12) Lying down on train or platform seats and disregarding the warnings.

(13) Operating stalls, putting up canopies, or organizing banquets within the mass rapid transit system premises without permission.

(14) Behaviors such as playing on the platform, crossing yellow warning lines, or not complying with the directions by walking or running on the escalator, or affecting the operation order and operation safety without permission.

Persons who commit any of the violations listed in the preceding paragraph shall be forced to leave mass rapid transit system premises by the joint force of mass rapid transit system personnels and police. No refund will be made on fares for uncovered journeys.

42. Pursuant to Article 50-1 of the Mass Rapid Transit Act, Offenders shall be subject to a fine of more than NT$10,000 and less than NT$50,000 in any of the following situations:

(1) Bringing hazardous or combustible substances into mass rapid transit routes, depots, stations or trains without permission.

(2) Tamper with station or train facilities, hindering normal operation of trains or power and security systems.

(3) Violate Paragraph 3 of Article 44, by crossing mass rapid transit routes without using overpasses or underground passages.

Paragraph 2 of the preceding article shall apply to all persons who commit any of the violations listed in the preceding paragraph.

For persons under fourteen years of age violating the regulations referred to Paragraph 1 of this article due to lack of oversight from their legal representatives or guardians, their legal representatives or guardians shall be punished.

43. It is forbidden in Kaohsiung MRT premises to engage in unpermitted flyer distributions or posts, election flag installations or hanging, behaviors or intentions of canvass or holding the election rally. Any person violating the aforementioned offences shall be forced to leave Kaohsiung MRT premises by KRTC personnel and police. No refund will be made on the fare of untraveled journey.

44. These Passenger Regulations and any amendments shall come into effect after approved by the Transportation Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government.