The CK124 Midsummer Taiwan cruise train combines with forest railway to offer a cruise-style “dual-rail journey”

▲ Taiwan Railways deploys steam locomotive CK124 for the Dual-Rail (Taiwan Railways + Forest Railway) Journey. (Photo / Courtesy of Taiwan Railways website)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

For the first time, a Taiwan Railways cruise-style train itinerary has been combined with forest railway tourism, and it features the national treasure-class steam locomotive CK124. The CK124 Midsummer Taiwan will be adorned with commemorative headboard plaques on August 23 and 30, and will for the first time be paired with forest railway trains to operate two cruise-style train journeys — the “Dual-Rail (Taiwan Railways + Forest Railway) Journey.”

During this event, the CK124 steam train will run from Douliu to Chiayi Station, where it will arrive at the platform at the same time as an adjacent forest railway train, stopping on opposite sides at the same location on Platform 1 for passengers and visitors to take photos. Passengers can seamlessly transfer to the forest railway train on the same platform to head to the Forest Railway Chiayi Depot Exhibition Area, where they can view steam locomotives and surviving narrow-gauge (762mm) train types, enjoy scenic views along the line, and tour smaller stations such as Beimen, Zhushiqi, and LumaChan.

In line with the seating capacity of the forest railway trains, only 180 seats (no standing tickets) will be available for each cruise-style train trip of the “Dual-Rail Journey.” Online ticket sales are scheduled to open at 9:00 AM on August 9. With only two trips and a total of 360 seats available, a ticket scramble is expected.

Taiwan Railways notes that the “Dual-Rail Journey” itinerary is a single fare sold as a package, with each package priced at NT$1,088 (including a lunch box, a commemorative ticket card, and one namecard-style ticket). Group bookings are not accepted, and each individual may purchase up to six tickets online.