Singapore and Hong Kong have lost! Taipei’s public transportation ranks first in the world, key reasons revealed

The British "Time Out" magazine conducted a ranking based on people's actual feelings about local public transportation. The results showed that Taipei ranked first with 95% positive evaluations, becoming the city with the best public transportation performance in the world. The picture shows the Taipei MRT. (File photo)

[Financial Channel/Comprehensive Report] The British "Time Out" magazine announced the 2026 Global Urban Public Transport Survey, which interviewed more than 24,000 urban residents around the world. The results were based on people's actual feelings about local public transport. The results showed that Taipei, Taiwan ranked first with 95% positive evaluations, becoming the city with the best public transport performance in the world.

"Time Out" pointed out in the report that compared with the underground transportation networks in most other big cities, the Taipei MRT is simply refreshing. "Time Out" writer Roisin Teeling shared: "The Taipei MRT stations are spotless, with neat queue lines painted on the platforms, and trains arrive on time. Taipei has won nearly perfect scores from local residents. The transportation capacity of this system cannot be underestimated. In 2025, Taipei MRT's passenger transportation volume will exceed 767 million, with an average of about 2.1 million passengers per day."

In addition, Teeling also praised the convenience of the EasyCard, pointing out that an EasyCard can take the MRT, buses, rent YouBikes, and can even be used to purchase snacks from 7-Eleven. In addition, the public transportation network in the Taipei metropolitan area continues to expand. The combined traffic volume of New Taipei City's light rail and circular lines hit a record of 30 million passengers last year.

The 2nd to 5th places are Singapore, Hong Kong, Edinburgh in the UK and Seoul in South Korea.

Ranking 6th to 10th are Zurich, Switzerland, Vienna, Austria, Tallinn, Estonia, Helsinki, Finland and Medellin, Colombia.

Ranked 11th to 20th are Shanghai, China, Warsaw, Finland, Osaka, Japan, Stockholm, Sweden, Jakarta, Indonesia, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Hamburg, Germany, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Vancouver, Canada, and Oslo, Norway.

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