Rail transport in Taiwan

The island of Taiwan has a very extensive railway network of approx. 1102 km ( TRA Yearbook 2006). Of these around. 654 km double track and about. 448 km single track expanded. Although the railroad no longer plays such an important role as in the past, makes Taiwan's population density, the railway into an important means of transport, especially along the densely populated western corridor.

The train was brought from the former stately inspector of the Qing Dynasty, Liu Mingchuan in 1888 to Taiwan. The first steam locomotive was the " Teng Yun ," which originally ran on the route between Shanghai and Woosung. Liu Ming Chuan in 1888 gave the instruction to bring two locomotives to Taiwan. The " Teng Yun " was the company number 01410 and was, together with seven other locomotives by the corporation for locomotive Hohenzollern ( Dusseldorf ) delivered. The " Teng Yun " ran until 1924 on routes to Taiwan and stands today as plinthed in the "New Park" in Taipei. The first, rd. 29 km long route in Taiwan was built in 1887 between Keelung and Taipei and went into operation in 1891. There followed in 1888 the route between Taipei and Xinzhu (about 78 km), which went into operation in 1893.

During the Japanese rule (1895-1945) the railway was further expanded on the island then called Formosa. These railway lines served primarily for transportation of raw materials ( especially wood and coal, as well as gold).

Since there are on the archipelagos of Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor islands belonging to the Republic of China no railways, the main island of Taiwan is the only part of today's Republic of China with rail transport.

Long-distance traffic

Taiwan High Speed ​​Rail

Since 2007, reversed the Taiwan High Speed ​​Rail, a system of high-speed trains based on the Shinkansen technology, along the western corridor of the capital Taipei in the north to the port city of Kaohsiung in the south.

Taiwanese Railway Administration (Taiwan Railway Administration, TRA)

The TRA operates most passenger and freight traffic on the main route of Taiwan, which forms a closed ring around the island, as well as three secondary lines ( Pingxi Line, Neiwan line and JiJi line). The third, previously also operated by the TRA route between Xinzhu and Neiwan ( Neiwan line) is interrupted between Xinzhu and Zhudong since 2007. Between the - relatively far apart - stations Xinzhu the TRA and the Taiwan High Speed ​​Rail, an MRI -like compound to be built. The transport connection between Xinzhu and the TRA station in Zhudong is currently using rail replacement bus service. The predominantly major tourist remaining distance between Zhudong and Neiwan each hour served by diesel multiple units. The resumption of the operation between Xinzhu and Zhudong is now planned for 2012. The previously -used only with DMUs route on the east coast has been electrified from Taipei to Hualian. On this route since the spring of 2007 driving distance express trains ( " Taroko Express" ), which were also developed on the basis of the Japanese Shinkansen. In contrast to the Taiwan High Speed ​​Rail this distance express trains operated by the TRA.

Urban railways

With the growing urbanization of Taiwan various city rapid transit systems have emerged and more are planned.

Industrial and Heritage Railways

Originally built for the transport of industrial products, these routes are now become a tourist attraction.