In addition to the recently approved Suhua Highway improvement project, another proposal to solve the transportation problems between northern and eastern Taiwan will also be brought up soon. The Railway Reconstruction Bureau is currently formulating a plan to construct a direct railway route connecting Taipei and Yilan, which is scheduled to be submitted for review next month.

After opening the Hsuehshan Tunnel to traffic, traveling from Taipei to Ilan is more convenient, though still limited due to capacity.

On weekends during peak periods there is lots of traffic as it will take twice as long as a train.

Still, there is no guarantee of buying a train ticket as the Ministry of Transportation and Communication believes that by 2015 the Hsuehshan Tunnel's capacity will reach maximum capacity,

as it will evaluate a policy involving a direct Taipei-Ilan railway line.

The Railway Reconstruction Bureau says that the main principle of the Taipei-Ilan rout would be straightening this line to improve the original winding section of the northern link railway.

After improvement, travel from Nangang to Toucheng will take approximately 36 minutes, and from Toucheng to Suao will be done on an elevated road.

However, this route has not passed its Environmental Impact Assessment, as a new proposal will be offered.

The Railway Reconstruction Bureau said to gain passage for the EIA, the new route does not necessarily mean the rout will be shorter, but connecting to the original Hualien and Taitung trains would be the main consideration.

The bureau says four options are currently proposed, and a final plan should be decided in December as it must first be submitted to the Executive Yuan for approval with EIA review taking place later.

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