TAIWAN: The Executive Yuan has approved a 60.6 km extension of the island’s standard-gauge high speed line from Nangang station east of Taipei to Yilan on the northeast coast. The extension of the high speed line is intended to relieve the 1 067 mm gauge conventional line between Shulin southwest of Taipei and Qidu south of Keelung, which is operating at full capacity. This will require the reconstruction of four stations as well as the construction of a new interchange to the high speed line. Strategic expansionThe Yilan extension forms part of the country’s strategy to create a high-efficiency round-island rail network, encouraging a more balanced development of the east coast region compared to the west. Ao the southern end of the high speed line, a 25.9 km extension from the current terminus at Zuoying to Kao­hsiung main station and then east to Pingtung was approved in December 20204.