Yilan Residents Challenge Environmental Approval for Taiwan High-Speed Rail Extension

Taiwan, November 2026 – Residents of Yilan County, supported by civic organisations, have filed an administrative lawsuit seeking to overturn the environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval for the proposed Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR) extension from Taipei to Yilan. The legal challenge follows the Executive Yuan's rejection of an administrative appeal on 11 September, with opponents arguing that significant environmental and planning concerns remain unresolved.

The proposed extension is expected to generate nearly 10 million cubic metres of excavated earth and rock during construction. Former Environmental Protection Administration deputy minister Thomas Chan questioned how the excavated material would be managed, while also highlighting plans for a 420-hectare development district surrounding the proposed Yilan HSR station. The extent of agricultural land acquisition has yet to be finalised, raising concerns about farming activities, local livelihoods and potential land speculation.

The dispute also highlights concerns about the project's wider impact on Taiwan's existing railway network. Environmental assessment committee members have reportedly raised questions about route planning, soil disposal and the potential financial implications for Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation and Taiwan Railway Corporation. These issues could influence how the extension is integrated with existing passenger services and how its long-term operational costs are managed.

Former transport minister Hochen Tan also criticised the project's planning process, noting that the HSR extension option was assessed without an initial standalone feasibility study before comprehensive planning began. He raised questions about the criteria used to compare alternative railway routes, including the relative weighting given to construction costs, travel-time improvements, traffic distribution and environmental protection. A previous direct railway proposal between Taipei and Yilan, involving a 36-kilometre route, had been rejected during environmental review in 2006.

The legal challenge underscores the growing importance of balancing railway expansion with environmental accountability, land-use planning and the financial sustainability of existing operators. For Taiwan's transport sector, the outcome could influence the project's approval process and reinforce the need for comprehensive assessments and public consultation before major rail infrastructure developments proceed.

Source: Taipei Times