From the West Coast to the East Coast

The Lonely Planet information on crossing the south part of Taiwan, next November, is a little bit confusing:
We prefer to take the South Cross-Island Highway by public bus: There is a bus going from Tainan to Meishankou. The bus to Haitung starts from Tienchih. How to overcome the 27 kms between Meishankou and Tienchih? A taxi? What is a reasonable price for that (in US dollars)? Is this also possible in November (winter season)?

An alternative can be a railway connection between Kaoshing and Taitung. The Lonely Planet is not clear about that: Does this connection exist? Has anybody any experience with travelling that line?

Which part of the South Cross-Island Highway is recommended Haitung/Tienchih or Kaoshing/Taitung?

Thank you very much.

Ruud Feijen
Amsterdam

The Southern Cross Island Highway is closed because of damage caused by Typhoon Morakot. Trains are running on the south link line now, so train is probably the best way to travel from Kaohsiung to Taidong.

The Train is by far the best way to travel between Kaoshing and Taitung. Plus you can enjoy some nice coastal views if traveling at day.

There are also buses that passes through South Link Highway (not to confuse with South Cross-Island Highway). But I will still recommend taking the train.

There is currently no train between Kaohsiung and Taidong. A 600m section of track was washed away and has yet to be repaired. If the South Cross-Island Highway is also closed, then the only way between Kaohsiung and Taidong is either to fly or, possibly, to take a bus around the southern coast- I am not sure if these exist though.
If the SCI Hwy is still open, you will probably have to walk or hitch between Meishankou and Tianchi. I doubt there are many taxis to catch up there.

Oops, sorry I forgot about the railway being cut down. However, train still operates on most part of South Link Line, between Fangliao and Taitung. For Kaohsiung ~ Fangliao, there are bus services. (The same bus that goes to Kenting NP).

The bus passes through South Link Highway departures at hourly basis before the railway is fixed. But it may not be very comfortable compared to the train.

Last time I checked it, the bus service between Tienchih and Taitung is ceased because of low passenger rate. Which means the South Cross-Island Highway is out of public transport now. (Not to mention it's seriously damaged by Typhoon Morakot).

Just to clarify a few things.

The Southern Cross Island Highway is route 20 through the mountains. The usual way to drive between Kaohsiung and Taidong is via route 9, South Link Highway as mentioned by #2. As far as I know this road is open.

Taipei Times reports on the reopening of the South Link railway line. The section between Nanzhou and Fangliao will reopen on 13 December 2009. Between Fangliao and Taidong there are regular trains.