Taiwan Railways adds a new family member again—signs sisterhood agreement with “Seibu Railway”

▲ Taiwan Railways and Japan’s Seibu Railway became sister railways on the 14th in Tokyo. The photo shows a Seibu Railway train. (Photo/From Wikipedia)

By Reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Comprehensive Report

Taiwan Railways has gained another Japanese sister rail operator. On the morning of the 14th, Taiwan Railways Administration officially signed a “Friendship and Sister Railway Agreement” with Seibu Holdings Incorporated and Seibu Railway Co., Ltd. in Tokyo. In the future, they will issue commemorative tickets and promote tourism mutually.

Seibu Holdings Incorporated (referred to as Seibu HD) owns multiple business entities including transportation, hotels, real estate, and construction. These include Seibu Railway, Prince Hotels, Seibu Construction, Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, and the well-known in Taiwan, Seibu Lions baseball team—all are its renowned operations.

The Seibu Railway, which also became a sister railway this time, was established in 1912 and spans 176.6 kilometers. Along its route are famous tourist spots such as Yoyama Shibazakura Park, Hōjōzan Camellia Garden, Chichibu Lake, and Chichibu Shrine. After becoming sister railways, they will exchange tourism information with Taiwan Railways.

Taiwan Railways stated that this is the first overseas signing case for Taiwan Railways and the first cooperation case where both core and affiliated businesses were signed together, marking another milestone in expanding Taiwan-Japan railway collaboration.