Overnight Train to Green Island | Late-Night Limited Express + First Fugang Sailing. Best connection: Tze-Chiang Ltd. Express 161 (05:59) → Route 201 · Land-Sea-Air Express A 12:30 → Fugang ferry 14:00, arriving 14:50, about 8h 51m end-to-end.
If you want to be on Green Island first thing in the morning without overnighting in Taitung, the night train is the most time-efficient option.
The late-night EMU3000 from Shulin (greater Taipei) typically departs around 23:00 and arrives Taitung around 05:00 (Kaohsiung / Xinzuoying have similar overnight services). From the train station, board the first Route 201 at 06:20 from Bay 1, reach Fugang Ferry Pier (Taitung) at 06:40 and connect to the 07:30 high-season extra sailing with a 50-minute wait — into Nanliao Harbor (Green Island) before 09:00. If you only need the 09:30 weekday first sailing, no need to rush at dawn — grab breakfast in Taitung, then take the 08:10 or 08:30 bus to Fugang and wait 40–60 minutes.
If TRA delays push your arrival in Taitung past 06:00 and you miss the 06:20 bus, hail a taxi straight to Fugang (about NT$300, 20 minutes) to make the 07:30 extra sailing.
A few risks to weigh:
- Seats on the night train are not guaranteed, especially on weekends. Miss the reserved seat and you stand all the way to Taitung. Chukuang overnight services are being phased out in favor of EMU3000 — mixed running for now — so book early. - TRA delays eat your taxi or bus buffer. A train scheduled in at 05:00 reaching Taitung at 06:00 is not unusual on a bad night. - Pre-dawn Taitung is cool, and you step off into a sea breeze — pack a light jacket. - First sailings fill up fast — Green Island weekday 09:30 is the fixed run; high-season 07:30 only opens extra capacity. Book on ferry.tw ahead to be safe.
If you can spare an extra day, overnighting in Taitung the night before makes the whole trip much more pleasant — find a homestay, sleep properly, and take a taxi or homestay shuttle to Fugang at dawn. Far more comfortable than gutting it out on a night train.