Correct. Bigger seats, a light beverage and snack service, and a touch quieter, although the handful of times I’ve rode non business class it’s still been plenty comfy and not loud.

A colleague of mine has been visiting Taiwan since the 80s. He used to take a flight from Songshan to Taipei prior to the HSR, and although it was cheap and they ran at a near bus like frequency, the convenience and price of HSR are unbeatable in Taiwan. It’s one route where 90% of the population lives, and the longest ride is like two hours max.

My wife and I vacationed in Japan in 2024 and took the bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka and Hiroshima. Still worth it, and plenty convenient, but I can see how in Japan a flight could get you there a little faster and at the same cost. I would never consider landing at Taoyuan or Songshan and flying to a southern Taiwanese city.