Text by: Little Traveler
The Alishan Forest Railway, once a must-visit spot and a must-ride train for Hong Kong tourists in Taiwan, was suspended due to a typhoon disaster. But today’s good news is that after more than six years of reconstruction and restoration, the railway has successfully completed trial runs from Chiayi North Gate Station to Alishan Station, and is expected to resume full-line service on December 25.
The 71.4-kilometer forest railway had a 36.1-kilometer section between Zhushan and Fenchihu that was damaged by Typhoon Morakot in 2009. It was repaired and reopened earlier this year. Tickets sold out within two days of going on sale. As for the main line — the remaining 21.1 kilometers from Fenchihu to the Alishan Forest Recreation Area — it remains closed as large machinery cannot be transported up the mountain. Workers had to manually place explosives to construct a 100-meter iron bridge. In addition, the most severely damaged section at Erwanping, along with the most challenging new tunnel projects at Pingzhanah and Duolin, required a total restoration investment of NT$1 billion.
With the trains not running on the Fenchihu to Alishan section for over six years since the disaster, both veteran and new drivers have undergone rigorous training to familiarize themselves with the route and ensure the safest possible service for passengers.
As some railway foundations still need reinforcement and certain wooden sleepers require replacement, along with adjustments to track gauge and surface elevation, safety inspections and test runs are scheduled for the end of October. The highly anticipated return of the little train is drawing near.
Image source: United Daily News