Ring in the 2018 New Year’s dawn! Tickets for the Alishan Forest Railway’s “New Year’s Eve Sunrise Train” now on sale

▲The stunning sunrise over Alishan. (Photo / fromAlishan Sunrise Impression Concert official Facebook page)

Travel Center / Taipei Report

To accommodate travelers during the New Year’s holiday, the Alishan Forest Railway will operate between December 30, 2017 (106/12/30) and January 1, 2018 (107/1/1). On the main line (Chiayi ~ Fenqihu), two round-trips of the Alishan Limited Express (reserved seating) and one round-trip of the Zhongxing Local Train (non-reserved seating) will be available daily. Tickets for the reserved seating trains (excluding cruise-style services) will go on sale online starting at 6:00 AM on Friday, December 15, 2017 (106/12/15). The ticketing website ishttp://alishan.railway.gov.tw/.

▲Every year during New Year's Eve, numerous tourists take the Alishan Forest Railway’s New Year’s sunrise train up the mountain to catch the first light of dawn. (Photo / Provided by Taiwan Railways Administration)

Additionally, to transport passengers traveling to Zhushan on January 1, 2018 (107/1/1) to witness the first sunrise, the Zhushan Sunrise Train will begin operations at 1:50 AM. It is scheduled to run 16 outbound trips. Among these, only 10 trips — specifically services 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, and 73 — will accept advance group reservations for parties of 30 or more, with each trip accommodating up to 210 people.

▲Ring in the first light of 2018 by taking the Alishan Forest Railway’s New Year’s sunrise train. (Photo / Provided by Taiwan Railways Administration)

The return journey (from Zhushan to Alishan) is divided into Time Slot A and Time Slot B. Passengers may choose either time slot for the return trip, with 840 seats available per slot. Group reservations (for 30 or more people) can be made by phone starting at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 (106/12/12), with a limit of 100 people per call. The reservation hotline is 0800-003-096 — after dialing, press 9 to speak with the on-duty station master. Tickets are available until sold out.

General passengers may purchase tickets in person at the Alishan Station first-floor ticket office from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM on December 31, 2017 (106/12/31). (Tickets for the Zhushan Line’s New Year’s sunrise train are not available for advance purchase at any TRA or forest railway stations.) Each person may buy up to 10 tickets, and tickets are available until sold out.