TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan Railway Corporation (台鐵) resumed service on the Jiji Line (集集支線) on Monday (Jan. 5) after more than four years of closure, following extensive reconstruction efforts costing nearly NT$3.6 billion (around US$115 million). Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) announced that 23 trains will now run daily to Jiji Station (集集站), supporting both tourism and local commutes in central Taiwan. Officials expect full service restoration to Checheng Station (車埕站) by July 2026.
Heavy rains and earthquakes in August 2021 caused severe landslides along Highway 16, damaging tunnels and tracks on the scenic railway line in Nantou County, a mountainous area in central Taiwan. Taiwan Railway has since invested in detailed inspections and reinforcements to ensure safe operations along the restored route. Chen, Nantou County Magistrate Hsu Shu-hua (許淑華), and Taiwan Railway Chairman James Jeng (鄭光遠) attended the reopening ceremony to mark this milestone for the region.
Artist Hung Yi (洪易) unveiled a specially painted train featuring themes from "Journey to the West" (西遊記), a classic Chinese novel, highlighting local products and ecology of the region. Hsu emphasized the line's significance, stating that the Jiji Line is not just a railway but a link to Nantou's tourism and local memory for residents and visitors alike. Before the closure, the line attracted millions of visitors annually; last year, numbers dwindled to just over 100,000 due to the suspended service.
Taiwan Railway and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC, 交通部) invested nearly NT$3.6 billion (around US$115 million) to enhance track safety and comfort, upgrading facilities at Ershui (二水) and Jiji stations. The Tourism Administration (觀光署) also contributed over NT$145 million (around US$4.6 million) to boost tourism along the restored railway line. The reopened Jiji Line represents a significant milestone in Taiwan's efforts to revitalize rural tourism and preserve the island's railway heritage. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$31.3)