TAIPEI, TAIWAN--(Business Wire / Korea Newswire)--The Alishan Forest Railway fully resumed operations after a 15-year hiatus and introduced two new tourist charter trains, the Formosensis and Vivid Express, each offering unique tour packages designed to revitalize railway travel and attract visitors.
The Alishan Forest Railway resumes service after 15 years, with new tourist charter trains joining the service. (Photo: Business Wire) The Formosensis features large cypress wood panels, with its exterior boosting black window frames adorned with red trim and an interior ambiance that fills the air with distinctive aromas of Taiwan red cypress and Taiwan cypress. The Vivid Express, converted from old carriages and inspired by the Alishan Forest Railway, showcases a vibrant exterior with interwoven blue, orange, white, and yellow colors.
In 1903, planning for the Alishan Forest Railway began under the Government-General of Taiwan, with construction from Chiayi to Zhuqi starting in 1906. In 2009, Typhoon Morakot severely damaged the railway, halting all services. Despite extensive repairs, Typhoon Dujuan in 2015 further delayed the reopening.
This July, after overcoming numerous challenges, the new No. 42 tunnel was completed, allowing the railway to fully reopen. Even after a 15-year hiatus, the century-old railway’s charm remains undiminished. The “Alishan Forest and Railway Cultural Landscape” has become Taiwan’s first nationally significant cultural landscape.
The Alishan Forest Railway employs four railway track construction methods to overcome the challenging mountainous terrain such as spiral route, zigzag switchback, Ω-type turn, along with a specially designed hill-climbing locomotive, showcasing significant industrial and cultural value.
Taiwan’s Public Television Service and Japan’s NHK collaborated to produce the documentary “Sacred Trees Forest: Alishan Forest Railway Journey” in 8K video resolution with a 22.2 multichannel sound system. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency also published a book in Chinese, English, and Japanese, “Echoes Along the 2421m Ascent: Travelogue of the Alishan Forest Railway,” presenting the magnificent scenery and rich railway culture of Alishan to the world.
In recent years, Taiwan’s railway tourism offerings have gained popularity. Beyond the well-known forest railway, the former sugar railways, once used for transporting sugarcane, have also been repurposed for tourism. Centered around the Suantou Sugar Factory Cultural Park in Chiayi, the THSR Chiayi Station and the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum are connected by Taiwan’s first sugar railway that links major national transportation infrastructure and key cultural sites. Meanwhile, Taisugar’s vintage train continues to operate within the Sinying Railway Scenic Park.
Additionally, the “Breezy Blue Train,” a repurposed vintage blue train that typically runs on the South Link Line, has gained popularity since its launch in 2021. These vintage trains are gradually reshaping the landscape of Taiwan’s railway tourism.
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[email protected] This news is a press release provided by Central News Agency. Korea Newswire follows these editorial guidelines. Central News Agency News ReleasesSubscribeRSS 대만 아리산 산림열차, 15년 만에 재개통 아리산 산림열차(Alishan Forest Railway)가 15년의 중단 끝에 운행을 전면 재개하고, 두 가지 새로운 관광 전세 열차인 ‘포모센시스(Formosensis)’와 ‘비비드 익스프레스(Vivid Express)’를 도입했다. 각 열차는 철도 여행을 활성화하고 방문객을 유치하기 위해 각각 독특한 여행 패키지를 제공한다. 포모센... 8월 7일 13:40 Taiwan Olympic Team departs for 2024 Paris Olympic Games, led by Kuo Hsing-chun, Yang Yung-wei, and Tai Tzu-ying Taiwan has announced its delegation for the upcoming Paris Olympics, set to kick off on July 26. The team consists of 60 athletes, 39 coaches, and 23 first-time competitors, representing Taiwan in 16 sports categories. The athletes will depart for Paris starting July 17, with the archer... 7월 18일 14:25 ... More More News Culture & Entertainment Magazine & Newspaper Transportation Rail Sales Promotion Overseas Central News Agency All News Releases