TAIWAN High-Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) made an operating profit of nearly $NT 2bn ($US 69m) in the first half of this year, its first since the 340km high-speed railway began scheduled services in 2007. This compares with a loss of $NT 2.3bn in the first half of 2010.
TAIWAN High-Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) made an operating profit of nearly $NT 2bn ($US 69m) in the first half of this year, its first since the 340km high-speed railway began scheduled services in 2007. This compares with a loss of $NT 2.3bn in the first half of 2010.
Increased ridership, which grew at 14% in 2010 and a further 10.4% during the first half of this year, has boosted THSRC's revenue, while restructuring its debt in 2009 enabled it to reduce its debt interest rate from nearly 8% to 2%.
The profit has allowed THSRC to begin paying down its accumulated debt which stood at $NT 73.5bn at the end of last year.
