LONDON (TVBS News) — The Alishan Forest Railway's DL-34 locomotive, which arrived in Wales, U.K., in February 2023, officially hit the tracks on Saturday (May 4) after a year of system adjustments and operator training by the Welsh railway team. The locomotive is expected to carry domestic and international tourists through the natural beauty of Wales for the next three years.
At the inaugural ceremony, the DL-34 was adorned with the Red Dragon flag representing Wales and the Blue Sky, White Sun, and a Wholly Red Earth flag from Taiwan. Taiwan's Forestry Bureau Director Lin Hua-ching led a delegation from the Alishan Forest Railway to attend the ceremony and experience the maiden voyage.
Former British Trade and Cultural Office (BTCO) Director Michael Reilly, who facilitated the DL-34's debut in the U.K., believes that the exchange agreement signed between the Alishan Forest Railway and the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway (W&LLR), along with similar agreements, can play a significant role in enhancing Taiwan's visibility and image.
Stephen Clews, chairman of the W&LLR, said the loan collaboration, which took four years of discussion and effort, is a good opportunity for Taiwan and the U.K. to continue developing railway exchange cooperation.
The Alishan Forest Railway and the W&LLR in Wales established a "sister railway" relationship in 2017, initiating exchanges in railway operation and maintenance, tourism, education, and culture. After about two years, the two sides arranged for the DL-34 to operate in Wales, overcoming regulatory obstacles and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The W&LLR team and professional contractors spent 12 months adjusting the DL-34's braking system and coupling devices, conducting actual tests, and training drivers to ensure safe operation on the W&LLR tracks. The DL-34 will initially be loaned for three years.
The W&LLR announced that more passenger train services will use the DL-34 during the summer tourist season. Interested travelers and railway enthusiasts can check the timetable on the W&LLR official website.