TAIWAN - By year??s end our convenience store chains in Taiwan will be selling train tickets in nearly 10,000 individual locations: 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life and OK-Mart, reports the Taiwan News.

The Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) made the announcement on Wednesday, closing out a public bidding for the right to sell the tickets. Travelers will be able to purchase and pick up tickets at the convenience stores nationwide, as well as receive refunds for unused tickets.

Currently, TRA tickets can be purchased at train stations and approximately 1,200 post offices around the country, notes the newspaper. According to TRA Director-General Frank Fan, the agency had been trying to reach a deal with convenience store chains for a while, but had been forced to cancel the bids several times after failing to reach an agreement.