Taiwan Railway Administration

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Taiwan Railway Administration

Logo

System map
Locale Taiwan proper
Dates of operation 1887–present
Track gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) narrow gauge
Length 1,117.9 km (694.6 mi)
Headquarters Taipei, Taiwan
Website www.railway.gov.tw
Taiwan Railway Administration
Traditional Chinese 臺灣鐵路管理局 or
台灣鐵路管理局
TRA
Traditional Chinese 臺鐵 or 台鐵

The Taiwan Railway Administration (Chinese: 臺灣鐵路管理局, abbreviated TRA) is an agency of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Republic of China responsible for managing, maintaining, and running passenger and freight service on 1097 km of conventional railroad lines in Taiwan (gauge: 1067 mm).[1] Since Taiwan is heavily urbanized with a high population density, railways have played an important part in domestic transportation since the late 19th century. Most of the main lines are fully electrified and service is generally efficient and reliable. In 2009, the system carried 179.3 million passengers, or 491,422 passengers per day.[2]

Contents

[edit] Overview

Recent growth in the highway system and increased competition from bus companies and airlines 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. The high-speed rail line is not run by TRA, and is also a major source of competition. To offset this TRA has begun placing an emphasis on tourism and short-distance commuter service. This has led to several special tourist trains running to scenic areas and hot springs, the addition of dining cars (originally deemed unnecessary due to Taiwan's relatively small size), and converting several smaller branch lines to attract tourists. Additionally, several new stations have been added in major metropolitan areas, and local commuter service increased. Its boxed lunches remain the company's most popular product with sales totaling NT$320 million (US$10.8 million) in 2010 (around 5% of its annual revenue).[3]

On December 31, 2010, the TRA signed a NT$10.6 billion contract with Sumitomo Group and Nippon Sharyo to supply 17 tilting train sets capable of traveling 150 km/h (93 mph).[4] These eight-car electric multiple units (EMUs) will be delivered from 2012 to 2014 for service on Taroko Express services running between Taipei and Hualien on the Eastern Line. The system achieved a single day record on February 5, 2011 during Chinese New Year celebrations, transporting 724,000 passengers a day.[5]

[edit] Railway reconstruction

Under the Railway Reconstruction Bureau, many projects have been undertaken to modernize the railway system and improve its efficiency.

[edit] Past projects

Tradriver.jpg

Completed projects include the Taipei Railway Underground Project, a NT$17.792 billion project to move a 4.42 km (2.75 mi) section of railway between Huashan and Wanhua underground.[6] Work began on the project in July 1983 and was completed by September 1989, eliminating 13 railroad crossings.[6] An extension of the project was approved by the Executive Yuan on July 20, 1988. The 5.33 km (3.31 mi) project constructed a double-track tunnel (for both conventional rail and high speed rail) extending east towards Songshan.[7] The NT$27.48 billion project was completed in June 1994.

The "Wanhua-Banciao Project" was another underground railway project in Taipei aimed at the Wanhua and Banqiao areas.[8] The 15.38 km (9.56 mi) project included the construction of new Banqiao and Wanhua stations.[8] Construction began in September 1992, with underground railway operations beginning in July 1999 and tunnel construction for Taiwan High Speed Rail completed in April 2003.[8] The whole project was completed in 2004. The project also included the construction of a coach yard at Shulin, covering 14.3 ha (143,000 m3) and servicing both diesel multiple units and electric multiple units.[8]

Under the "East Railway Improvement Project", the route between Taipei and Hualien was electrified.[9] The section between Badu (in Keelung) and Taitung was improved by changing to 50 kg rail, automating traffic signals, and including portions of double tracks.[9] Work began in June 1998 and was completed in December 2004, costing NT$43.691 billion.[9] As part of the project, the New Guanyin Tunnel (at 10,307 m (33,816 ft), the longest double track railway tunnel in Taiwan) and the New Yongchun Tunnel were constructed.[9] The "Continued Improvement of Eastern Railways Project" was approved by the Executive Yuan on June 30, 2003, and involved a 5.7 km (3.5 mi) stretch between Dongshan and the Wulaokeng River.[10] It included the construction of the elevated Dongshan Station as well as two branch lines.[10] The project cost NT$2.779 billion, began on February 2004, and was completed by the end of 2008.[10]

The recently-completed "Shalun Project" was approved on November 5, 2004 and links the TRA and THSR lines around Tainan.[11] The 6.5 km (4.0 mi)-long branch line involved the construction of two new elevated stations: Shalun and Zhongzhou.[11]

[edit] Ongoing projects

The "Nangang Project", expected to be completed by August 2011, includes the construction of two 5.4 km (3.4 mi) tunnels between Keelung Road and the Dakeng River (for the TRA and THSR), reconstructing Songshan and Nangang stations as underground stations, construction of a 2 km (1.2 mi) mountain tunnel/ramp for the TRA, construction of a 5 km (3.1 mi) elevated railway, and the construction of the Cidu Marshalling Yard and Wudu Freight Yard.[12] At an estimated cost of NT$83.069 billion, the project is expected to eliminate 15 level crossings and boost the development of the Nangang District.[12] A project to expand the railway tracks between Nangang and Cidu from a double-track to triple-track system is expected to be completed by December 2012, decreasing the interval between trains during peak hours.[13]

Since the opening of the new Xinzuoying Station in Zuoying, Kaohsiung, traffic problems have plagued the area.[14] The "Zuoying Extension Plan of the Kaohsiung Railway Underground Project" aims to construct a 4.13 km (2.57 mi)-long single hold, double-tracked tunnel between Xinzuoying and TRA's Zuoying Station.[14] Neiwei Station will also be redeveloped as part of this project.[14]

Similar to the Shalun Project, the Neiwan Branch Line was approved on September 27, 2004 to connect THSR Hsinchu Station with Hsinchu City.[15] The project will eliminate eight railway crossings between Hsinchu and Zhuzhong.[15] The line will total 11.1 km (6.9 mi) and is expected to be completed in 2011.[15]

The "Kaohsiung Project" aims to move railroad lines in Kaohsiung underground as well as the construction of six commuter rail stations.[16] Estimated to cost NT$71.582 billion, the 9.75 km (6.06 mi) tunnel will eliminate six level crossings and fourteen grade separated crossings and remove the railway barrier along the current route.[16] While planning for the project began in 1998, several pre-construction projects have been completed including the movement of the old Kaohsiung Station and the construction of the Jhongbo temporary elevated bridge.[16] The project is expected to be completed by December 2017, and will also include the construction of a new Kaohsiung Station.[16]

[edit] Routes

Shifen Station on the Pingxi branch line
Xinzuoying Station in Kaohsiung

TRA runs the four main rail lines forming a closed loop around the main island of Taiwan, and three smaller branch lines.[17]

[edit] Main Lines

[edit] Branch Lines

[edit] Passenger service

[edit] Freight only

  • Keelung Harbor Line
  • Hualien Harbor Line
  • Taichung Harbor Line
  • Kaohsiung Harbor Line

[edit] Redesign

  • Shen'ao Line (深澳線): Ruifang, Taipei County - Shenao, Taipei County
  • Old Taichung Line (舊山線): Segment located in Miaoli County, closed in 1998. Now a minor tourist attraction. Shengxing Station has been declared a historical site.

[edit] Defunct

[edit] Service

EMU700 series train passing through Xike Station, New Taipei
Tzu-Chiang Limited Express

Trains are divided into five classes, higher classes generally stop at fewer stations resulting in faster service. The classes are:

  • Tzu-Chiang (Tsu-chiang / 自強): The fastest (and most expensive). Assigned seating. Non-reserved (standing) tickets are also sold at full price. There are 3 types of Tsz-chiang: EMU electric multiple unit (brown, now red), push-pull (orange/silver) and diesel (yellow/silver). Tickets for all 3 types of Tsz-chiang are the same price.
  • Chu-Kuang (Chu-kwang / 莒光): Second fastest. Assigned seating. Non-reserved tickets are sold at 80% of original price.
  • Fu-Hsing (復興): Phased out of normal service. Now only runs between Shulin (Taipei) and Taidong via Hualian Friday-Monday.
  • Local Express (區間快車): Usually run on the Sea line and Yilan line. Fu-hsing service at a local train's price. Launched in 2007.
  • Local Train (區間車): Short to medium distance commuter train, stops at all stations. No assigned seating. The former EMU (Electric multiple unit / 電車) and DRC (Diesel railcar / 柴客).
  • Express / Ordinary (普通): Stops at all stations, no air conditioning, most inexpensive. No assigned seating. Some Express trains (the light blue ones running on West Trunk Line) are air-conditioned while others (dark blue ones) are not equipped with air conditioners. Currently operational only on the southern end of the Western Line and being phased out with termination of service expected by the end of 2006. No longer running on the west coast.
  • Diesel Express: Only available on East Trunk Line and South Link Line. Mainly serve as commuter trains. No air conditioning. Tickets are the same price as Express and Ordinary.
  • Taroko Express (太魯閣號): An express train service operating between Hualien and Hsinchu or Changhua, via Taipei. Uses tilting trains.

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.

[edit] History

Imperial China had to cede Taiwan as a result of the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) to Imperial Japan in 1895. The Official Japanese Annual Report of 1935 states (under title Colonial Railways Section II Taiwan:

It was not until the cession of the Island of Taiwan (Formosa) from the Chinese Government to Japan that the island began to enjoy railway facilities, for prior that time the only railroad existing was a small light railway between Keelung and Hsinchu built at the time of the Qing Dynasty of China. Soon after the cession the Governor-General of Taiwan established a plan, with approbation of the Diet, to build a standard Japanese gauge railway connecting Takao (Kaohsiung) with Keelung at the expense of 28.800.000 yen. The work of construction was started from both termini and finished in April 1908. This 429.3 mile (690.7 km) line now forms the trunk line in the island communication system.

The Imperial Taiwan Government Railway manages three workshops in the Island viz. one each at Taihoku (Taipei), Takao and Kwarenko. The last mentioned is for East Coast Line rolling stock.

Source: "History". Taiwan Railway Administration. Archived from the original on 2006-04-07. http://web.archive.org/web/20060407194808/http://www.railway.gov.tw/n/n1_01.htm. Retrieved 2006-05-19. 
Teng-yun train is first steam locomotive operated in Taiwan Railway
Taroko express
  • 1887: Construction begins on first railway in Taiwan between Keelung and Taipei by Qing Dynasty governor Liu Ming-chuan
  • 1891: First rail line completed
  • 1895: Taiwan ceded to Japan by China following the end of the First Sino-Japanese War. Ministry of Taiwan Railway established by the Japanese Government.
  • 1908: The Japanese colonial government extends the railways to Kaohsiung.
  • 1922: Coastal Line (Zhunan - Changhua) completed.
  • 1924: Yilan Line (Badu - Su-ao) completed.
  • 1926: Huatung Line (Hualien - Taitung) completed.
  • 1941: Pingtung Line (Kaohsiung - Fangliao) completed.
  • 1940-1945: The railways are repeatedly bombed by the Allies during World War II.
  • 1945: Taiwan is handed over to the ROC, Taiwan Railway Administration established.
  • 1979: Western Line fully electrified. North-link line completed.
  • 1989: Rail lines running through downtown Taipei moved underground. New Taipei Main Station completed.
  • 1991: South-link Line completed, completing the rail loop around Taiwan.
  • 1997: Online reservations become available.
  • 2000: Yilan Line electrified.
  • 2001: Various special trains targeting tourists are offered.
  • 2003: North-link Line electrified.
  • 2007: Launch of Local Express trains with the delivery of Taiwan Railway EMU700 series.
  • 2010: Fu-hsing (Fu-shing / 復興) trains of the Taiwan Railway Administration network were scheduled to be phased out completely after December 21, 2010.

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Taiwan Railway Administration

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Transportation". A Brief Introduction to Taiwan. ROC Government Information Office. Archived from the original on 2006-05-18. http://web.archive.org/web/20060518163519/http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/brief/info04_11.html. Retrieved 2006-05-19. 
  2. ^ "Volume of Passenger Traffic by Lines - Passengers Carried". Taiwan Railway Administration. http://www.railway.gov.tw/intro/file/tt5.pdf. Retrieved 2011-01-14. 
  3. ^ "Creative marketing gives Taiwan railway new life: official". Focus Taiwan News Channel. 2011-03-23. http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?ID=201103230048&Type=aLIV. Retrieved 2011-03-24. 
  4. ^ "Sumitomo and Nippon Sharyo wins train sets supply deal in Taiwan". Steel Guru. 2011-01-10. http://www.steelguru.com/international_news/Sumitomo_and_Nippon_Sharyo_wins_train_sets_supply_deal_in_Taiwan/185355.html. Retrieved 2011-01-11. 
  5. ^ "100年春節疏運情形" (in Chinese) (Press release). MOTC. 2011-02-08. http://www.motc.gov.tw/mocwebGIP/wSite/ct?xItem=18685&ctNode=488&mp=1. Retrieved 2011-02-08. 
  6. ^ a b "Taipei Main Station Project". Railway Reconstruction Bureau. http://www.rrb.gov.tw/04100.aspx?id=1&lan=en. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
  7. ^ "Songshan Project". Railway Reconstruction Bureau. http://www.rrb.gov.tw/04100.aspx?id=2&lan=en. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
  8. ^ a b c d "Wanhua-Banciao Project". Railway Reconstruction Bureau. http://www.rrb.gov.tw/04100.aspx?id=3&lan=en. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
  9. ^ a b c d "East Railway Improvement Project". Railway Reconstruction Bureau. http://www.rrb.gov.tw/04100.aspx?id=11&lan=en. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
  10. ^ a b c "Continued Improvements of Eastern Railways". Railway Reconstruction Bureau. http://www.rrb.gov.tw/04100.aspx?id=12&lan=en. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
  11. ^ a b "Shalun Project". Railway Reconstruction Bureau. http://www.rrb.gov.tw/04100.aspx?id=15&lan=en. Retrieved 2011-01-22. 
  12. ^ a b "Nangang Project". Railway Reconstruction Bureau. http://www.rrb.gov.tw/04100.aspx?id=4&lan=en. Retrieved 2011-01-22. 
  13. ^ "Triple-track system to allow faster train service". Taipei Times. 2011-08-19. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/08/19/2003511118. Retrieved 2011-08-18. 
  14. ^ a b c "Zuoying Project". Railway Reconstruction Bureau. http://www.rrb.gov.tw/04100.aspx?id=24&lan=en. Retrieved 2011-01-22. 
  15. ^ a b c "Neiwan Project". Railway Reconstruction Bureau. http://www.rrb.gov.tw/04100.aspx?id=14&lan=en. Retrieved 2011-01-20. 
  16. ^ a b c d "Kaohsiung Project". Railway Reconstruction Bureau. http://www.rrb.gov.tw/04100.aspx?id=9&lan=en. Retrieved 2011-01-22. 
  17. ^ "Touring Taiwan by Rail". ROC Tourism Bureau. January 13, 2005. http://www.worldpress.org/Asia/2012.cfm. 
  18. ^ TRA Xindian Line

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