By MOOK Travel & Living’s Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported
Following the trial operation of its thematic exhibition hall on December 30, 2013, themed “Marine Science Sets Sail, Sustaining the Ocean,” the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology today, together with the Taiwan Railways Administration under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, held an official inauguration ceremony for the Shen’ao Line’s HSK Station platform at Rueifang Station and HSK Station... The once-discontinued Shen’ao Branch Line has resumed service from Rueifang Railway Station to HSK Station. This train stop, planned due to the opening of the marine museum, is the only platform located within a museum district in the country, allowing the public to travel directly from Rueifang Railway Station to the HSK. In the future, the Shen’ao Branch Line may also be merged with the Pingxi Line, enabling visitors to travel seamlessly from Jingtong all the way to the HSK.
The Shen’ao Line resumes service today, and the colorful train has caught the eyes of railway enthusiasts. (Photo source / National Museum of Marine Science and Technology)
In earlier years, the Shen’ao Branch Line served as a vital route for transporting coal to the Shen’ao Power Plant. However, after passenger services ceased in 1989, it retained only freight functions, and was eventually discontinued in 2007, fading into history. Today, it has been revived thanks to the opening of the HSK.
The Shen’ao Branch Line runs between Rueifang Station and the HSK Station, covering a total distance of approximately 4.2 kilometers with a travel time of about 10 minutes. There are 20 trains per day, one per hour, with a one-way fare of NT$15 and a round-trip fare of NT$28. A series of train carriages on the Shen’ao Branch Line have been painted with colorful designs, jointly created by the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology and Asia Pacific Institute of Creative Technology. These include the Children’s Adventure, Ocean Future, Deep Sea Reflection, and the fantastical-themed Ocean Exploration, symbolizing Keelung’s vibrancy and technological development. Additionally, passengers can download an interactive APP mini-game during the journey, adding an educational and entertaining aspect to the ride.
In addition, Taiwan Railways’ Rueifang Station has also begun selling commemorative tickets for the Shen’ao Line starting today, limited to 3,000 sets. Each set includes one morning and one afternoon platform ticket, one Rueifang–HSK namecard-style round-trip ticket, and an on-site commemorative stamp for keepsake. Each set is priced at NT$88, with a limit of six sets per person.
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