The News Lens
Date: 2017/11/30
By: Eryk Smith
Despite now being a ‘city,’ Pingtung residents would be better represented, better funded
Photo Credit: ellery CC BY SA 3.0
and better organized as a part of Kaohsiung.
Earlier this year, a dozen or so protesters stood outside the brand-new Pingtung Train Station (newly elevated and electrified), holding signs calling on the central government to extend the High Speed Rail (HSR) to Pingtung City (屏東市).
“Pingtung is dying. We need transport.” “Give justice to Pingtung! HSR now!” the signs read. The issue has since come up in question sessions, with lawmakers representing Pingtung demanding an HSR link and a subway (MRT) connection with Kaohsiung. Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) administration transport officials have pledged to “look into the matter.”
Let’s be honest: The HSR will not be extended to Pingtung in our lifetimes. A quick look at a map shows how unfeasible the plan would be. The Kaohsiung MRT says there are plans to extend the Orange Line from Daliao (大寮) to Pingtung, which would entail a short hop over the Gaoping River (高屏溪) and this seems like a logical and workable option. [FULL STORY]