Like a steel coconut tree!“The New Pingtung Railway Station” opens on the 23rd

▲ The new Pingtung Railway Station will open on August 23. (Photo / Reporter Chiu Mei-wan)

Reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Interview & Report

As part of the Taiwan Railways Administration’s urban rail transit project, Pingtung Railway Station is also set to enter the era of its third-generation building. With the first phase of the elevated “New Pingtung Railway Station” opening on the 23rd, it also marks the end of an era for the old station, which has been around for over 50 years.

The new Pingtung Railway Station incorporates many local features of Pingtung. Lin Chien-chih, head of the Third Engineering Section at the Southern Engineering Office of the TRA Reconstruction Bureau, said that the new railway station is a three-story structure designed around the theme of a “Sun City,” with separate north and south exits. Unlike traditional stations, the interior includes space reserved for retail, allowing for future shopping opportunities. The completed sections include three tracks and platforms, and the entire station is expected to be completed by June 2016.

▲ The A-shaped steel canopy of the new Pingtung Railway Station resembles a coconut tree. (Photo / Taken fromthe Railway Engineering Museum fan page)

The new platform also has highlights. The open-airplatform features a steel-structured canopy with a slightly A-shaped design, evoking the image of Pingtung County’s tree — the coconut tree; Lin Chien-chih also pointed out that part of the canopy uses metal panels while another section utilizes photovoltaic solar panels, enabling solar power generation to supply electricity for the new station.

As for the future plans of the old railway station, Lin Chien-chih noted,the old railway station and the original at-grade tracks will be completely demolished, and after demolition, parts of the original site will be planned as a public transit hub and green public space. In addition, to allow passengers to learn about the history of Pingtung Railway Station, the TRA Reconstruction Bureau has also turned some historical materials about the station into ceramic tiles, which are decorated inside the new station for public appreciation.

▲ The new Pingtung Railway Station is currently under testing. (Photo / Taken from the Railway Engineering Museum fan page)

The Southern Engineering Office of the TRA Reconstruction Bureau has scheduled permanent track switching operations from 11:00 PM on August 22 to 5:00 AM on the 23rd. During this period, nine affected trains will be replaced by bus shuttle services, and passengers can check the TRA official website for details.

Fun Fact: Why is Pingtung called the “Sun City”?
Pingtung enjoys abundant sunshine with long daylight hours and an average annual temperature of around 24 degrees Celsius, hence its nickname as the “Sun City.”

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