New Scenic Spot: San Yi Old Mountain Line Railbike to Begin Trial Operation at Year-End

By MOOK Scenic Spots Wu Pin-xuan / Compiled and Reported
 
Railbikes, which became popular in South Korea, gained even more fame after appearing on the Korean variety show "Running Man." Sightseeing destinations such as Gangjeong and Jeju Island now offer railbike experiences. A delegation of government, industry, and academic representatives from Miaoli visited South Korea for a slow city exchange program, where they studied the operational models of railbikes. Upon returning to Taiwan, they are keen to develop the San Yi Old Mountain Line Railbike as a new scenic tourism spot.

To promote the "Slow City Movement" and the Old Mountain Line RAIL BIKE project, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications plans to subsidize the construction of a railbike system with 300 million NTD. In the future, the system will integrate the cultural heritage of the Old Mountain Line railways, Hakka culture, and surrounding attractions along the 130-km stretch in San Yi, connecting eight tunnels and four stations. This will allow visitors to enjoy the thrill of cycling on railway tracks.

Last year, San Yi Township was certified as an international slow city. The RAIL BIKE, with its green energy tourism features, will be a major draw for San Yi’s slow city appeal. The planned RAIL BIKE route will initially run from the Shengxing Railway Station on the Old Mountain Line to the Longteng Broken Bridge, spanning approximately 3.6 kilometers. In the future, it could be extended to connect with the Old Mountain Line section in Taichung City, creating a complete Old Mountain Line railway tourism system.

A railbike is a vehicle that combines elements of a bicycle and a train, allowing riders to pedal along railway tracks. It is fun and perfect for enjoying the scenery along the way. The Miaoli County delegation believes that the railway resources, surrounding environment, and attractions of the San Yi Old Mountain Line are superior to those of railbike sites in South Korea, and they are very optimistic about the future development of the San Yi Old Mountain Line Railbike.
 

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