Railways in

Taiwan

(Republic of China)

Although claimed by China as a province, and unrecognised by the United Nations and by most countries of the world, Taiwan is to all intents and purposes a country in its own right with a vigorous domestic economy and international trade.

The first railway in the island of Formosa opened in 1891 from Taipei to Kee Lung, a distance of 29km.

The first lines were built to a gauge of 3ft 6in (1067mm) and form the basis of the present day network. However, in 2007 a new high speed line was opened, built to standard gauge (1435mm). The new line is some 345km in length and links the capital, Taipei, in the north of the island, to the major southern city of Kaohsiung.

• Taiwan Railway
• Taiwan High Speed Rail
• Alishan Forest Railway steeply graded 2ft 6in (762mm) gauge line running for over 70km from Chaiyi via Alishan to Jhushan and The Stone Monkey. Built as a logging railway, now a tourist line into the Alishan National Scenic Area. Steam and diesel hauled. The railway closed in 2011 following an accident and will require extensive repairs and rehabilitation before reopening, currently planned for 2014 (No website located at present)
• Taipei Metro
• Chiayi proposed light rail (No website located at present)
• Hsinchu proposed light rail (No website located at present)
• Kaohsiung Metro
• Taichung proposed Metro (No website located at present)
• Tainan proposed Metro (No website located at present)
• Taoyuan proposed light rail (No website located at present)

© 2005-2011 Glyn Williams
Flag image from Wikipedia