Taiwan Railways Administration
The Taiwan Railway Administration (台灣鐵路管理局, a.k.a 台鐵 or TRA) is the government agency responsible for managing, maintaining, and running the 2,481 km of conventional railroad lines in Taiwan. As Taiwan is heavily urbanized with a high population density, railways have always played an important part in domestic transportation.
Recent growth in the highway system and increased competition from bus companies has led to a decline in long distance rail travel (except during major holidays such as Chinese New Year), though short and intermediate distance travel is still heavily utilized by commuters and students. A high-speed rail line currently under construction and scheduled for completion in 2005 is not run by TRA, and is also expected to be a major source of competition. To offset this TRA has begun placing an emphasis on tourism, this has led to several special tourist trains running to scenic areas and hot springs, the addition of dining cars (orginally considered unnessicary due to Taiwan's relatively small size), and converting several smaller branch lines to attract tourists.
Like several other state owned enterprises in Taiwan, the Taiwan Railway Adminsitration is currently in the process of privitization.
Routes and Service
There are four main rail lines forming a closed loop around the main island of Taiwan, and three smaller branch lines.
Main Lines
- 西部幹線 (Western Line): Keelung to Kaohsiung
- 南迴線 (Southern Line): Kaohsiung to T'ai-tung
- 東部幹線 (Eastern Line): T'ai-tung to I-lan
- 北迴線 (Northern Line): I-lan to Keelung
Branch Lines
- 內灣線 (Nei-wan Line)
- 平溪線 (Ping-hsi Line)
- 集集線 (Chii-chii Line)
A third narrow gauge railway originally built for logging but since converted to haul tourists, the Alishan Forest Railway (阿里山森林鐵路), is not under the jurisdiction of TRA.
Most of the main lines are fully electrified and service is generally efficient and reliable. Trains are divided into five classes, higher classes generally stop at fewer stations making for faster service. The classes are:
- 自強 (Tze-Chiang): The fastest (and most expensive). Assigned seating.
- 莒光 (Chu-Kuang): Second fastest. Assigned seating.
- 復興 (Fu-Hsing): Third fastest. Assigned seating.
- 電車 (EMU): Short to medium distance commuter train, stops at nearly all stops. No assigned seating.
- 普通 (Ordinary): Stops at all stations, no air conditioning, cheapest price. No assigned seating.
With the exception of the Ordinary trains, all trains are modern and air conditioned. Many of the Ordinary train cars, on the other hand, are almost 40 to 50 years old, and provide an interesting experience for the more historically minded.
Related Topics
Related Links
[Taiwan Railway Administration] Chinese website
[Taiwan Railway Administration] English website