Alishan Forest Railway | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Locale | Chiayi County, Taiwan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 23°30′36″N 120°48′15″E / 23.510092°N 120.804239°E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termini | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Connecting lines | Chiayi Station: TRA Western Line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stations | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | Official website ![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operator(s) | Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Daily ridership | 5,500[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opened | 1912 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Line length | 86 km (53 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track gauge | 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Highest elevation | 2,216 m (7,270 ft) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Alishan Forest Railway | |||||||||||||
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Traditional Chinese | 阿里山森林鐵路 | ||||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 阿里山森林铁路 | ||||||||||||
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Alishan Forest Railway (Chinese: 阿里山森林鐵路; pinyin: Ālǐshān Sēnlín Tiělù; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: A-lí-san Sim-lîm Thih-lō͘) is an 86 km network of 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge railways running up to and throughout the popular mountain resort of Alishan in Chiayi County, Taiwan. The railway, originally constructed for logging, has become a tourist attraction with its rare Z-shaped switchbacks, and over 50 tunnels and 77 wooden bridges.[2] Taiwan's Ministry of Culture has listed the forest railway as a potential World Heritage Site.[3]
- Alishan Forestry Railway and Cultural Assets Management Office AFRCHO [4]
History
[edit]Japanese era
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/AFR_Shay_31_01.jpg/220px-AFR_Shay_31_01.jpg)
The narrow gauge lines were originally constructed by the Japanese Colonial Government to facilitate the logging of cypress and Taiwania wood.[5] Preliminary surveying was conducted in 1900 and route planning began in 1903, but the project was shelved in 1904 due to the Russo-Japanese War. In 1906, the Japanese Government contracted the Osaka-based Fujita-gumi to build the railroad. The company laid tracks from Kagi (Chiayi) to Rienryō (Liyuanliao) and imported 13-ton Shay locomotives to run on the tracks, but financial troubles and technical difficulties in construction in the mountainous terrain forced them to abandon the project in 1908. In 1910, the Japanese Government took interest in the abandoned railroad and decided to finish it themselves, also importing 18-ton Shays for the job. The tracks were extended to Alisan (Zhaoping) in 1913, marking the completion of the main line.[6]
The Alishan Forest Railway became a major tourist railway when the tracks were extended to Niitakaguchi (新高口) in 1933. The station was located very close to Mount Niitaka (now Yu Shan), the highest mountain in Taiwan and the Japanese Empire, and the hike to the summit could be completed in seven to eleven hours, depending on the health of the individual. To cater to hikers, the railway operated an express service from Kagi to Niitakaguchi that only stopped at Shōhei; hikers would stay overnight at a lodge at Niitakaguchi and summit the next day.[7][8]
Since 1945
[edit]Diesel railcars supplemented the steam engines on the passenger services. In the 1980s, 10 Hitachi-built diesel-hydraulic locomotives were delivered and replaced the railcars and remaining steam engines.
The completion of the Alishan Highway in 1982 led to the loss of many rail passengers to faster and cheaper buses and the rail became primarily a tourist attraction.[2]
Accidents on the line have resulted in a number of fatalities over the years. On 24 April 1981, a collapsed tunnel resulted in nine deaths and 13 injuries. On 1 March 2003, 17 people were killed and 156 injured when a train derailed near Alishan Railway Station.[9] On 27 April 2011, five tourists, including three from mainland China, were killed and 113 people injured in a derailment.[10]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Damaged_Alishan_Railway_Portion.jpg/220px-Damaged_Alishan_Railway_Portion.jpg)
In addition, services have been repeatedly disrupted due to damages from landslides. The main line from Chiayi to Alishan has been partially closed since 2009 due to damages cause by landslides during Typhoon Morakot in 2009 and Typhoon Dujuan (2015). The line underwent repairs and resumed full operation in July 2024, after some delays.[11][12][13] In August 2015, the Chiayi-Fenqihu section was briefly closed due to damages during Typhoon Soudelor.[14]
In order to further boost tourism in the region, on 5 December 2018 the Alishan Forest Railway commenced a "sister railway" partnership with Čierny Hron Railway in Slovakia;[15] the Alishan Forest Railway has since partnered with nine other companies across five different countries.[16]
Operation
[edit]The railway was privatized through a build-operate-transfer (BOT) in June 2008[17] and maintained by the Hungtu Alishan International Development Corporation.[18] On 1 May 2013, the management of the railway was taken over by Taiwan Railways Administration. On 1 July 2018, the railway was taken over by the newly established Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office of the Forestry Bureau.[19]
The system is currently operated using diesel locomotives, although there are occasional special public runs using the old steam powered Shay locomotives.[20]
Lines
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Tunnel114.jpg/220px-Tunnel114.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Alishan_station_01.jpg/220px-Alishan_station_01.jpg)
The main line originally ran from the city of Chiayi (elevation 30 m), to Alishan (elevation 2,216 m), but is currently partially closed past Shizilu. The vegetation along the way changes from tropical to temperate and finally alpine. The line features many switchbacks on the way up the mountain.[21]
- Main line
- Chiayi–Alishan
- Includes several steep gradients (max. 6.26%), a spiral and four switchbacks, known as the Dulishan Spiral. The longest line with most dramatic climate change.
- Reopened between Chiayi and Fenqihu (approximately the halfway point) following typhoon damage repairs in January 2014,[22] and to Shizilu in 2017.
- The full remaining main line between Chiayi and Zhushan will reopen on 6th [23] July 2024, after the completion of Tunnel 42 in April 2024 [24] [25]
- Shenmu line
- Chushan line
- Alishan–Chushan
- Early morning trains, popular for viewing the sunrise over Jade Mountain
- Zhaoping line
- Alishan–Zhaoping
- Runs frequently all day, a short (5-minute) ride uphill to Zhaoping station
- Mianyue line
- Alishan–Shihou
- Closed due to earthquake damage and typhoon, currently turned to mountain trail, reconstruction plans under discussion.
- Shuishan line
- Alishan–Shuishan
- No passenger service, mountain trail and thinning only
-
The front of the train on the Zhushan Line
-
Alishan station
-
Zhushan Station
List of stations
[edit]Alishan line (Main line)
[edit]Name | Chinese | Taiwanese | Hakka | Tsou | Elevation (m) |
Distance (km) |
Transfers and Notes | Location | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiayi | 嘉義 | Ka-gī | Kâ-ngi | 30 | 0.0 | ![]() ![]() Terminus for all trains |
West | Chiayi | |
Beimen | 北門 | Pak-mn̂g | Pet-mùn | 31 | 1.6 | East | |||
Lumachan | 鹿麻產 | Lo̍k-môa-sán | Lu̍k-mà-sán | 82 | 10.8 | Station closed for refurbishment from July 2023 | Zhuqi | Chiayi County | |
Zhuqi | 竹崎 | Tek-kiā | Chuk-khì | 127 | 14.2 | ||||
Mulüliao | 木履寮 | Ba̍k-kia̍h-liàu | Muk-kiak-liàu | 324 | 18.9 | No passenger service | |||
Zhangnaoliao | 樟腦寮 | Chiuⁿ-ló͘-liâu | Chông-nó-liàu | 543 | 23.3 | Train No.5 and No.8 non-stop | |||
Dulishan | 獨立山 | To̍k-li̍p-soaⁿ | Thu̍k-li̍p-sân | 743 | 27.4 | Train No.5 and No.8 non-stop | |||
Liyuanliao | 梨園寮 | Lê-hn̂g-liâu | Lài-yèn-liàu | 905 | 31.4 | Train No.5 and No.8 non-stop | Meishan | ||
Jiaoliping | 交力坪 | Ka-le̍k-pêⁿ | Kâu-li̍t-phiàng | 997 | 34.9 | Zhuqi | |||
Shuisheliao | 水社寮 | Chúi-siā-liâu | Súi-sa-liàu | 1,186 | 40.5 | Train No.5 and No.8 non-stop | |||
Fenqihu | 奮起湖 | Pùn-ki-ô͘ | Fun-hí-fù | 1,403 | 45.8 | Train No.5 will stop for an hour Terminus for Train No.311 and No.312 | |||
Duolin | 多林 | To-lîm | Tô-lìm | Ngungutu | 1,516 | 50.9 | Train No.5 and No.8 non-stop | Alishan | |
Shizilu | 十字路 | Si̍p-jī-lō͘ | Sṳ̍p-sṳ-lu | Sʉa’fʉnʉ | 1,534 | 55.3 | Terminus for Train No.1 and No.2 Train No.5 and No.8 non-stop | ||
Pingzhena | 屏遮那 | Hè-sen-ná | Phìn-châ-nâ | Heesiana | 1,711 | 60.5 | Station closed for passenger services | ||
First Switch | 第一分道 | Tē-it-pun-tō | Thi-yit-fûn-tho | 1,827 | 63.0 | No passenger service | |||
Erwanping | 二萬坪 | Jī-bān-pêⁿ | Ngi-van-phìn | Hehesiana | 2,000 | 66.8 | stop for Train No.5 and No.8 | ||
Shenmu | 神木 | Sîn-bo̍k | Sṳ̀n-muk | Ak’e fahei | 2,138 | 69.6 | → Shenmu line Formerly Third Switch Train No.5 and No.8 non-stop | ||
Alishan | 阿里山 | A-lí-san | Â-lî-sân | Psoseongana | 2,216 | 71.4 | Terminus for Train No.5 and No.8 Formerly Fourth Switch | ||
Zhaoping | 沼平 | Chau-pêng | Cheu-phiàng | Chuchumuana | 2,274 | 72.7 | → Mianyue line → Chushan line Formerly Alishan station |
Chushan line
[edit]Name | Chinese | Taiwanese | Hakka | Tsou | Elevation (m) |
Distance (km) |
Transfers and Notes | Location | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alishan | 阿里山 | A-lí-san | Â-lî-sân | Psoseongana | 2,216 | 0 | Alishan | Chiayi County | |
Zhaoping | 沼平 | Chau-pêng | Cheu-phiàng | Chuchumuana | 2,274 | 1.3 | → Alishan line → Mianyue line | ||
Shizifendao | 十字分道 | Si̍p-jī-pun-tō | Sṳ̍p-sṳ-fûn-tho | 2,310 | 2.9 | ||||
Duigaoyue | 對高岳 | Tuì-ko-ga̍k | Tui-kô-ngo̍k | P’oocva | 2,350 | 4.9 | Xinyi | Nantou County | |
Chushan | 祝山 | Chiok-soaⁿ | Chuk-sân | Yuafeofeo | 2,451 | 6.25 | Highest railway station in Taiwan |
Mianyue line
[edit]Name | Chinese | Taiwanese | Hakka | Elevation (m) |
Distance (km) |
Transfers and Notes | Location | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alishan | 阿里山 | A-lí-san | Â-lî-sân | 2,216 | 0 | Alishan | Chiayi County | |
Zhaoping | 沼平 | Chau-pêng | Cheu-phiàng | 2,274 | 1.3 | → Alishan line → Zhushan line | ||
Shizifendao | 十字分道 | Si̍p-jī-pun-tō | Sṳ̍p-sṳ-fûn-tho | 2,310 | 2.9 | |||
Tashan | 塔山 | Thah-san | Thap-sân | 2,344 | 5.5 | Was the highest railway station in the Empire of Japan | ||
Mianyue | 眠月 | Biân-goa̍t | Mìn-ngie̍t | 2,303 | 8.0 | located in the Taiwan pleione Natural reserve | ||
Shihou | 石猴 | Chio̍h-kâu | Sa̍k-hèu | 2,318 | 9.26 | The Stone Monkey is destroyed in the 921 earthquake |
Tribute
[edit]On 10 March 2018, Google celebrated the Alishan Forest Railway with a Google Doodle.[26]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Shelley Shan (4 April 2016). "Alishan Forest Railway ticket prices to go up". The Taipei Times. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ a b Deborah Kuo. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/09/28/2003454673 "Uncertain Future for Alishan Railway".] Taipei Times. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
- ^ "Alishan Forest Railway". Ministry of Culture. 17 March 2023.
With these unique features, the railway has been listed by the Ministry of Culture as one of the 18 potential World Heritage Sites within R.O.C. territories.
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/@AFRCHO
- ^ Railway island paradise Trains June 2018 page 34
- ^ "用途的轉變". 阿里山林業鐵路及文化資產管理處 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Forestry Bureau. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ 蘇昭旭 (20 May 2012). "阿里山歷史文件回顧三: 阿里山森林鐵路的百年興衰". 蘇昭旭老師的全球鐵道視野部落格 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "登玉山之巔 溯歷史之源" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Liberty Times. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Taiwan's Alpine Rail". Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
- ^ Shelly Shan. "Tourists Killed in Train Derailment". Taipei Times. 28 April 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
- ^ "阿里山森鐵剩42號隧道卡關 原地復建難". 公視新聞網 (in Traditional Chinese). 28 August 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5182340
- ^ "Alishan Forest Railway resumes full operations - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "Alishan Railway to resume its normal operations Wednesday - The China Post". Archived from the original on 3 October 2015.
- ^ "Alishan signs sister deal with fellow Slovakian railway". Taipei Times. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
- ^ "阿里山蒸汽火車 108年起每兩周行駛一天". UDN.com. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
- ^ "阿里山森林鐵路移交民營 航向新紀元". Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2008.
- ^ Shelly Shan. "TRA to Take Control of Alishan Forest Railway". Taipei Times. 1 May 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
- ^ Huang, Kuo-fang; Lee, Hsin-yin (23 June 2018). "Forestry Bureau to take over operation of Alishan railway". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
- ^ "阿里山SL-31號蒸汽機車運行記錄". Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2007.
- ^ "歡迎光臨阿里山森林鐵道". Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ "Alishan tain goes to Fenqi Lake again".
- ^ https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5182340
- ^ https://focustaiwan.tw/photos/20240421ENP0001m
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLTE01daRw8
- ^ "Celebrating the Alishan Forest Railway". Google. 10 March 2018.