Introduction of High speed rail (HSR) has definitely considerably improved the public transportation infrastructure in Taiwan. However, I see some flaws in the chosen alignment. The chance was missed to have a HSR station at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. This would have allowed travelers to directly reach the airport (without changing the means of transport). Some of the HSR stations including those in Chiayi and Tainan are located far away from the city center. The gain of short travel time by HSR is partly lost by lengthy shuttle bus (BRT) or local train (Shalun line) rides. In Kaohsiung, the HSR line ends in Zuoying with no option of future extension to the main station in the heart of the city (or to the airport). The TRA line was put underground recently in urban Kaohsiung and a fancy new main station is currently under construction. But it will only serve TRA trains and MRT (plus buses). Just one HSR stop in Kaohsiung City is a rather poor service compared to three stops in Taipei City. The planned southern extension of the HSR line to Pingtung will be disadvantageous for Kaohsiung as apparently the extension will fork off from the Kaohsiung branch in Yanchao. Then a number of trains will just pass by Kaohsiung City.