The Kaohsiung Circular Light Rail System, Taiwan's first light rail (LRT) network, officially commenced full operations on January 1, 2024. The completed LRT network has significantly enhanced rail transportation services, driving steady growth in ridership. Initially projected to reach the milestone of 10 million passengers for the year by December, statistics reveal that as of October 2024, the cumulative ridership has already surpassed 10.31 million, achieving this target ahead of schedule.

Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit Bureau Director-General Wu Chia-Chang attributed the early success to several key factors, including the completion of the full rail network, the growing public preference for mass transit, seamless integration with other rail systems such as the MRT and Taiwan Railways, the boost provided by the TPASS policy, and effective city branding campaigns that have elevated Kaohsiung’s profile.

According to Bureau statistics, the Kaohsiung Circular Light Rail attracts significant passenger flows during peak school and work commute hours, particularly in areas near schools and commercial districts. To enhance operational efficiency, Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation has been instructed to deploy additional trains during peak periods, especially for students commuting to and from schools. Among the eight stations (C1, C20, C21, C28, C29, C31, C33, C34) near high schools and vocational schools, C28 Kaohsiung Industrial High School, C29 Shu-Te Home-Economics & Commercial High School, and C1 Lizihnei rank as the top three stations, highlighting the increasing preference of students for light rail as a mode of transportation.

With the completion of its circular LRT network, the Kaohsiung Circular Light Rail now boasts 38 stations, serving a diverse range of users across city centers, school zones, commercial areas, and tourist attractions. Popular destinations such as the Asia New Bay Area, Pier-2 Art Center, Totoro Tunnel, Green Giant Tunnel, and Hamasen District have made the light rail a favorite among visitors from other regions, offering them a chance to experience the beauty of Kaohsiung. The light rail's connections with MRT stations, including Kaixuan (C3 Cianjhen Star Station), Aozihdi (C24 Heart of Love River Station), Hamasen (C14 Hamasen Station), Wukuaicuo (C32 Kaisyuan Park Station), and Taiwan Railways stations like Gushan (C18 Gushan Station), Museum of Fine Arts (C20 Museum of Fine Arts Station), and Science and Technology Museum (C30 Science and Technology Museum Station), have further expanded its service reach and enhanced ridership, with the TPASS policy continuing to drive growth.

The Kaohsiung Circular Light Rail, which encircles Kaohsiung’s city center, seamlessly integrates with cultural landmarks like the Pier-2 Art Center and iconic structures such as the Kaohsiung Music Center, shaping a unique city brand. Large-scale city marketing events, including the Lunar New Year Giant Rubber Duck Festival, Ocean Party, Megaport Festival, and Halloween celebrations, have successfully drawn public participation, boosting LRT ridership. The highest single-day ridership was recorded on February 10 during the Giant Rubber Duck Festival, with 96,128 passengers. Popular stops like Hamasen and Pier-2 Dayi Station have also ranked among the top five stations for annual ridership.

Analysis of the 38 LRT stations reveals that Heart of Love River (C24), Dream Mall (C5), and Cianjhen Star (C3) stations are currently the top three stations by ridership. Love River Heart Station is leading with an average daily ridership of 3,067 passengers, positioning it as a strong contender for the station with the highest annual ridership. However, Dream Mall and Cianjhen Star stations also have the potential to claim the top spot, with final rankings to be announced at the end of the year.