New Highlights at a Nostalgic Station: Retro Style Revived at Five TRA Stations

By MOOK Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 
To revive the charm of historic stations, Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) has carried out restoration and improvement projects at five key sites: the national heritage site of Taipei Railway Station, the New Taipei City-designated heritage site of Shanjia Old Station, and the Neiwan Branch Line stations—Zhudong, Jiuzantou, and Neiwan. These efforts aim to preserve important cultural assets while also promoting local prosperity and railway tourism development, with the hope of presenting a brand-new look after the renovations.

Taipei Railway StationEstablished in 1900 (opened in 1908), rebuilt in 1936, Taipei Railway Station, along with Taipei Main Station, is a large-scale station building from the Japanese colonial period and is designated as a national heritage site. In accordance with the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act and related regulations, TRA has initiated restoration work to improve the roof’s waterproofing and maintain the current condition of the station interior. The renovation scope also includes the main station building, station office, platforms, and police substation. Once completed, the station will fully showcase its classic, vintage architectural style.

Shanjia Old StationLocated next to the new Shanjia Station, the original New Taipei City-designated heritage site was closed and not open to the public after the new station’s cross-platform building was completed in 2011. To continue the reuse of this heritage station, TRA launched the “New Taipei City-Designated Heritage Site Shanjia Station Restoration Project,” expected to be completed in August. The restored old station, together with the surrounding landscape planned by New Taipei City Government, is hoped to boost local tourism and ensure the sustainability of railway culture.