Alishan Forest Railway’s Cruise-Style Train: The Three Movements of Fenchihu

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
 
Through the joint efforts of the Chiayi Forest District Office under the Forestry Bureau and the Alishan Forest Railway Office of the Taiwan Railways Administration, the operational route of the forest railway will be extended 10 kilometers from Fenchihu toward Alishan to Shizilu Station, and 6.9 kilometers from the Alishan Sacred Tree Station toward Fenchihu to the First Branch Line. The only remaining unopened section is the 7.4-kilometer stretch between Shizilu and the First Branch Line.

Due to damage caused by Typhoon Dujuan, a severe section at the 58-kilometer mark of the forest railway remains unrepaired. Although full restoration has not yet been completed, cruise-style train services are currently operating weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays during July and August. On Mondays, the train runs from Chiayi to Shizilu, and on Wednesdays, it runs from Alishan to the First Branch Line.

•Movement I: The First Movement – Alishan Bumps Ahead, To Fenchihu We Go
The first movement of the reopening – On July 3 (Monday) at 8:50 AM, the Alishan Forest Railway departs from Alishan heading to the First Branch Line, then continues upward via Erwanping to Zhushan. The First and Second Branch Lines are hidden gems that are generally hard for tourists to reach and are also one of the unique features of the Alishan Forest Railway, commonly referred to as the “Alishan Wall Bump.” The train moves in a zigzag (“Z”) pattern here to save on construction costs — an engineering method used in areas with limited space.

•Movement II: The Alishan Train Moves Forward to Fenchihu
On July 5 (Wednesday), a grand ceremony for the second movement of the reopening was held in Shizilu Community: the maiden voyage of the Alishan Forest Railway’s return to Shizilu. On one hand, it announced a major step forward in railway restoration — the connection from Fenchihu to Shizilu. On the other hand, it also introduced the Shizilu Community, which has long been nurtured through community forestry efforts by the Chiayi Office, to a wider audience.

•Movement III: Looking Forward to Meeting Again at Pingzhena
Although the restoration work on Tunnel No. 42 at the 58-kilometer mark of Pingzhena poses extreme challenges — the area is remote and inaccessible by road or machinery — the Chiayi Forest District Office under the Forestry Bureau is continuing its efforts. The design phase has now been put out for tender online, with hopes of achieving full-line train service as soon as possible.
 
【Info】
Alishan Forest Railway
Tickets can be booked and information found on the TRA Alishan Forest Railway webpage
Phone: Chiayi Ticket Office 05-2256918, Alishan Station 05-2679200

500-meter Mountain View Rainbow Trail – Qingjing Windmill Festival Kicks Off in Color