Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR) was the biggest nation-wide infrastructure investment in Taiwan, a capital cost of $17 billion for 214-mile distance through BOT (build, operate, and transfer) using this method for infrastructure development where the private sector would build (building in 1999) and operate (operating in 2007) HSR for 35 years and will transfer the ownership to Taiwanese government.

The main purpose of THSR was to integrate the economic forces, to accelerate the emergence of a new regional economic development structure, and to realize the balanced regional development in the 21st century. In addition to regional economic development, THSR has  a positive contribution to energy consumption and CO2 emission.

According to Ni, Chang, and Kao (2012), THSR is an efficient transport in time saving, energy saving, and CO2 reduction. THSR’s impact annually includes:

1) Energy Saving (Compare to Private Car): 110 Thousand Kilo-Liters oil equivalent or US$80 Million