阿羅哈、日統接連停駛，為何客運業快「撐不住了」？還有辦法救嗎？《台灣交通怎麼了？》EP 018｜志祺七七

Summary

The video discusses the 'Taiwan's Passenger Transport Management Crisis', highlighting the decline in passenger transport services due to factors like high-speed rail competition, fare restrictions, driver shortages, and the impact of the pandemic. It explores the government's efforts to subsidize fares and drivers, as well as potential solutions like mixed passenger and cargo transportation. The video emphasizes the importance of passenger transport, especially for rural areas, and invites viewers to consider alternatives and share their thoughts on the crisis.

Takeaways

• 🚌 Taiwan's passenger transport industry is facing a significant crisis with services becoming less frequent and harder to access.
• 🏆 'Aloha Passenger Transport', once a luxury leader, ceased operations after 20 years due to financial losses, highlighting broader industry struggles.
• 📉 Over the past decade, the annual passenger volume for road transport in Taiwan has plummeted from 200 million to around 80 million.
• 🛣️ The number of national highway and general road passenger transport routes has been halved from 1051 in 2011 to 555 in 2023.
• 🚅 The advent of the high-speed rail has siphoned off passengers from traditional road transport, especially after its expansion to central regions.
• 💵 Fare caps for national highway passenger transport have been stagnant for 17 years, leading to financial strain as operational costs rise.
• 🚸 The inability to retain drivers due to poor working conditions and long hours is exacerbating the crisis, with a widening gap in driver availability.
• 🔄 The reduction in services creates a vicious cycle where fewer flights lead to fewer passengers, which in turn leads to further service reductions.
• 😷 The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the decline, with many drivers leaving the industry during the downturn, creating a significant labor shortage.
• 🚦 Government interventions, such as increased subsidies and fare adjustments, are being considered to alleviate the crisis and support the industry.

Q & A

What was the impact of the Taiwan High Speed ​​Rail on passenger transport services?

The Taiwan High Speed ​​Rail, which began operation in 2007, gradually became the main transportation force in the western half of Taiwan, leading to a significant loss of passengers for traditional passenger transport services. This overlap in routes resulted in a decrease in the frequency of passenger transport usage.

Why did Aloha Passenger Transport cease operations?

Aloha Passenger Transport faced repeated losses over time and eventually announced that it would cease operations, switching to general tour bus services. It became the first national highway passenger transport company in Taiwan to suspend operations during the epidemic.

What challenges did Hsinchu Passenger Transport face, and how did the situation resolve?

Hsinchu Passenger Transport, which had been operating for over a century, announced it would end operations due to declining traffic volume and poor management. However, after Hsinchu County urgently increased subsidies, the company continued to operate, albeit on a reduced scale with only some routes.

How has the number of passenger transport routes changed in Taiwan over the past decade?

In just the past ten years, the number of national highway and general road passenger transport routes in Taiwan has been almost cut in half, decreasing from 1,051 routes in 2011 to 555 routes by 2023.

What is the significance of passenger transport for residents in towns and remote areas without railways?

Passenger transport is crucial for residents in towns and remote areas without railways, as it serves as their primary means of transportation to and from the city for work, shopping, or medical needs, especially for students and the elderly who do not have cars.

What are the main reasons behind the difficulty of passenger transport operators to 'make ends meet'?

The main reasons include the loss of passengers due to the rise of high-speed rail, fare problems where the ticket price has an upper limit that has not been adjusted for 17 years despite increasing costs, and the inability to retain drivers due to poor working conditions and high working hours.

How has the driver shortage affected passenger transport operations?

The driver shortage has led to operators not being able to find enough drivers, forcing them to reduce the frequency of their services. This reduction in service frequency has created a vicious cycle where fewer flights lead to fewer passengers, and the need for drivers increases due to overtime work.

What was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the passenger transport industry in Taiwan?

The pandemic led to a large-scale departure of drivers as demand for passenger transport dropped significantly. Additionally, more people chose to drive or buy cars to avoid the risk of infection, leading to increased traffic congestion and a further decline in the use of passenger transport.

What measures is the government taking to address the passenger transport crisis?

The government is increasing fare subsidies and driver subsidies to incentivize operators to continue their services. They have also ended the 17-year fare freeze and raised the upper limit for national highway passenger transport fares to help operators reduce losses.

What alternative solutions have been proposed to help the passenger transport industry?

Some proposed solutions include introducing foreign drivers to address the driver shortage, mixed passenger and cargo transportation to increase revenue per trip, and the introduction of double-decker passenger transport to increase passenger capacity on each trip.

Why is it important to support passenger transport despite its current challenges?

Passenger transport remains important as it serves 200,000 people daily, supports the operation of the public road network, and provides access to areas that are beyond the reach of other transportation services, particularly in rural areas where it is a critical part of daily life infrastructure.