Taipei Metro phases out single-journey physical token

Taipei Metro phases out single-journey physical token

2026-03-18

Taipei Metro’s blue, coin-sized token is something most people have bought when they want to pay for a single journey on the MRT, but starting this week, they’re gradually being replaced with QR codes valid on the date of purchase. A QR code is generated upon making a purchase on the "Metro Taipei" app, or in hardcopy form from the ticket machines of 22 select stations. By July, the physical tokens will only be available at the information booth in each station. Let’s see what people in Taipei think about the new ticket format.

Lin Li
FTV reporter
If you’re taking the Taipei MRT without an EasyCard or using electronic payment on your phone, you’ll have to purchase a single-journey ticket from a vending machine. Then, you’ll get this blue token upon purchase. But in the future, the vending machine will instead, give you a paper receipt with a QR code.

Taipei Metro’s new Transit QR Code has officially rolled out. But before July, ticket vending machines may still give you a physical token. However, starting in July, you’ll only be able to get this blue token if you purchase a single-journey ticket or discounted ticket from the service desk.

- Paper gets damaged easily. It’s a bit of a nuisance.

- I think the tokens are more environmentally friendly than physical receipts. I suppose it’ll be a bit troublesome for elders, because they’re used to using the token.

According to Taipei Metro, around 30,000 to 35,000 single-journey tokens are used every day, accounting for 2% of the total passenger volume. They’re usually bought by travelers from outside the metropolitan region. But what happens if you damage the paper?

Chen Shih-hung
Taipei Metro ticketing manager
The QR code itself has a certain margin of error. If the damage is only slight, then the Transit code would still be approved at the fare gate. If it can’t be read, travelers could still go to our service desks and ask for a reprint.

If travelers are still concerned about damage, Taipei Metro says they could take a picture of the QR code, which is still readable by the sensors. They’re phasing out the tokens because cleaning is labor-intensive.

Every week, used tokens are collected to be cleaned, which takes disinfecting and multiple rinsings, as well as reformatting with a new serial code, before they’re reallocated to individual stations. That’s why they’re now being replaced with the QR code.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#metro #mrt #publictransport #contactlless #QRcode

北捷單程"QR紙票"今上線 "藍代幣"漸退居二線

2026-03-18

台北捷運的單程票，一直以來都是使用「藍色圓形代幣」，同時也是民眾借用站內付費區廁所的臨時通行票，但從今天(18日)開始，北捷改推紙本「QR單程票」上線。原先的藍色代幣，將在7月之後，剩下臨櫃購買特殊票，才能看到。上路第一天情況如何？透過鏡頭一起看看。

[[民視記者林莉]]
“搭乘台北捷運，如果沒有使用悠遊卡，或其他手機電子支付，來到自動售票機，(買單程票)會獲得這顆藍色小代幣，但之後，會由這一張QR code(一次性)紙本票證來取代”

台北捷運QR單程票正式上線，不過 7月之前，自動售票機台，還是會兩種併行，7月之後，這枚藍色代幣只剩下臨櫃購買月台票、優惠票、愛心票，才會出現。

“紙本很容易爛掉，有點麻煩”

“我覺得(代幣)比較環保紙票，我是覺得對老人家，可能比較不方便，因為他們已經很習慣用這個代幣了”

北捷統計，代幣單日使用量大約3萬至 3.5萬枚，佔總運量2%，主要外地旅客購買為主，但不少民眾認為，這一張紙，如果不見、毀損，怎麼辦？

[[北捷站務處票務中心主任陳世宏]]
“QR Code本身有一定的容錯率，微幅折損的話，基本上票卡還是可以通過閘門去驗識，沒有辦法辨識，那可能就是找我們詢問處(協助重印)”

真的怕弄不見，北捷給了好方法，購票當下拍下來，其實也能使用，北捷這次的改變，主要也是考量，代幣比較環保沒錯，但清洗上，過程繁瑣。

每週回收一次各車站代幣，運回後端，得先浸泡消毒水、反覆清潔，最後經過自動格式化，重設票證代碼，再分裝送回車站使用，一來一回，使用的人力、物力都是成本。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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Sea turtles usually lay eggs in the summer, but one decided to lay her clutch last December on the off-shore island of Xiaoliuqiu, with about 70 baby sea turtles hatching recently. Experts say that temperature is important in determining the sex of the hatchlings. In the past, warm temperatures averaging above 31°C have produced more females, but this time, the average temperature was around 25°C, so most of the hatchlings have turned out to be male.

A mother sea turtle was recorded laying her eggs in December last year. When she finished, she returned to the sea. After about 83 days, baby sea turtles hatched and made their own way to the sea.

These adorable baby turtles slowly but surely climb out from their nest. Sea turtles usually nest in the summer, but this time the mother laid her clutch in the winter. What’s more, of the 94 eggs laid, an astounding 70 hatched.

Lai Yun-ju
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If the temperature by the nest averages around 28°C, it will produce male hatchlings. If the average temperature is above 31°C, we can be fairly certain that most of the hatchlings will be female.

Since this turtle laid in winter, the average temperature was even lower at 25.2°C, so it’s likely that most of the hatchlings were male. This sea turtle laid eggs on Xiaoliuqiu once before in 2023. Three years later she came back, but in a different season.

Lee Tsung-hsien
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Sea turtles rarely lay eggs in the winter, making this case very valuable for research. But this could be a sign that climate change and rising global temperatures are continuing to alter the marine environment. Sea turtles could lay their eggs in either winter or summer, so look out for turtle nests and be sure not to disturb them.

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Military orchestra members write and perform original songs during off hours

Every year on National Day and New Year’s Day, the military’s Symphony Orchestra performs alongside the tri-service marching band, as their sharp uniforms and disciplined performance dazzle their audience. But did you know that there’s a band within the band? It’s called RG, which is short for "Real Good." The private group rents a practice room outside of work hours to work on their original music. Let’s give it a listen.

Jazz drums, saxophone, electric guitar—every musician does their part to flush out the melody.

The band rocking out on stage as lights flicker over the audience is RG, comprised entirely of members from the military’s symphony orchestra.

When they hear about the military orchestra, most people think about their performances during major national events such as Double Ten National Day or the New Year’s Day celebration. But you can also see them perform at the National Concert Hall or Liberty Square.

Brought together by a common aspiration, they formed a band to perform their own original music. They rent a practice room during their off time to work on their songs. But where does the name RG come from?

Voice of Sergeant Lee
RG lead singer
It stands for Real Good. Back when we chose the name, we didn’t want anything too trendy or intense. The group’s been around for 15 or 16 years already. I’m sure everyone remembers the music software from back then called Real Player. So I said, let’s just call ourselves Real Good. It’s simple and common. Everyone will remember it.

RG has been around for over 15 years, but they don’t know how much longer they’ll be able to stay together. Their newest song, “If This is the Last Time,” crystalized from the heartbreak of thinking about the end.

Voice of Sergeant Lee
RG lead singer
Our core members have all been serving for 20 years already. We don’t know how much longer we can stay together or how many shows we’ll have left. So I decided to write a song about it. If this is our last time, let’s give it our all.

Corporal Han
RG violinist
When we were discussing it, we said we could actually hold a concert of all original songs. We can perform all the songs our members have written before or are currently working on. When we listened to everyone’s songs, we figured it’s like our memorandum. We all have these to-do lists, things we’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t had the time for yet, or things that are very important to us.

By continuing to write and perform their original songs, RG shows off the best of what the military’s musicians have to offer.

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Bizarre YouBike swap scheme backfires after student calls police

A bizarre bike swap scheme backfired in Taichung after a man tried to get out of paying for his YouBike rental. The incident took place last week, when a high school student left his YouBike parked outside a hot pot restaurant while he was having dinner inside. It was then that another YouBike rider surreptitiously swapped out his YouBike for the student’s, in an attempt to pay a lower rental fee. The student didn’t see the swap and unknowingly returned the perpetrator’s bike to the dock. But he realized something was up when he later received a notification telling him that he had yet to return his bike, and that his rental fee was NT$1,700. That’s when he got the police involved.

A man rolls up on a YouBike. He gets off and pushes his own YouBike next to another one parked on the side of the road. He pulls out his bag from the basket and rummages inside for a bit, before putting it back. Here’s the weird part. He doesn’t put the bag in his own YouBike’s basket, but on the one parked next to it. Even stranger, he hops on the wrong bike and rides away. What is going on?

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I looks intentional. He was passing by and turned back. He even adjusted the height of the seat to be the same and took off with my bike.

This student had rented a bike near Taichung’s Yizhong Market and rode to a hot pot restaurant on Yucai North Road, where he parked his bike while he was having a meal inside. He didn’t notice the switch up at all, and got on the perpetrator’s bike and returned it to the docking station thinking it was his. He realised something was wrong when he received a text warning him that the YouBike he had rented had not yet been returned. Fearing a fee of NT$15,000 for lost bikes, he went to the police.

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Red lines, red lines everywhere! It can be nearly impossible to find a parking spot. That’s why many choose to park in lots like these, compromising cost for convenience.

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It’s often full. I’ve even seen fees of NT$40, NT$60, NT$80 per hour, but you still can’t park there.

Motorist
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Tsai Li-ching
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It’s private. He runs it himself and knows his customers’ needs. Beyond serving customers, he also believes in serving the community. So he offers parking at the lowest possible price as a way of giving back.

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