Alishan Forest Railway reopens in full after 15 years of difficult repair work

Alishan Forest Railway reopens in full after 15 years of difficult repair work

2024-07-19

After 15 years of arduous repairs, the Alishan Forest Railway is fully opened once again. Trains are finally running again from Chiayi Station all the way to Alishan National Forest Recreation Area. President Lai Ching-te headed to Chiayi on Friday to mark the beginning of a new chapter for the historical railway.

After 15 years of difficult repairs, the Alishan Forest Railway has finally reopened. President Lai Ching-te on Friday headed south to Chiayi to see the start of a new chapter for the renovated train line.

Lai Ching-te
President
We need to continue developing Alishan. This is not the end. We must continue to promote the axis development plan, and continue to expand its effects. I believe this will be beneficial for the development of Chiayi City and Chiayi County’s tourism and culture industries.

Weng Chang-liang
Chiayi County commissioner
The full reopening of the Alishan Forest Railway is something many people had been looking forward to. Not just Taiwan locals, but also friends from overseas.

The Alishan Forest Railway is a cultural treasure in Taiwan, and is also among the best known mountain railways in the world. In 2009, Typhoon Morakot caused damage to 421 spots along the tracks. The railway was slated to reopen in 2015, but Typhoon Dujuan further caused the collapse of a tunnel. The long and arduous repair process has finally come to an end.

After a lot of grueling work, restoration work on Tunnel No. 42 at the end of the line wrapped up in May this year, linking up the entire line. Now Chiayi and Alishan are once again connected by train. Locals hope the resumption of services will be a boost for the local economy, as travelers come to enjoy the stunning mountain landscapes.

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阿里山林鐵中斷"15年"! 本月全線通車賴總統到場視察

2024-07-19

經歷颱風多次重創，百年歷史的阿里山森林鐵路在中斷長達15年後，終於在這個月恢復全線通車，未來列車可從嘉義車站一路直達阿里山森林遊樂園區，今天(7/19)特別舉辦全線通車感恩活動，總統賴清德特別南下嘉義搭乘體驗，見證阿里山森林鐵路脫胎換骨的歷史時刻。

歷經15年重重修復難關，阿里山森林鐵路終於迎來全線通車。總統賴清德特別南下嘉義，見證阿里山森林鐵路脫胎換骨的歷史時刻。

[[總統賴清德]]
“阿里山我們要持續建設，這不是終點。大軸線發展計畫，要繼續去推動，讓效應持續去發揮，我相信阿里山的文化觀光、嘉義縣市的文化觀光，一定可以有很好的發展。”

[[嘉義縣長翁章梁]]
“阿里山鐵路的全線通車，是很多人的期待，這個期待不只是台灣鄉親的期待，還有很多國際友人的期待。”

阿里山林業鐵路是台灣國寶級文化資產，也是世界著名登山鐵路之一。2009年遭遇莫拉克颱風後，全線高達421處損壞停駛，原定2015年恢復通車，又遇到杜鵑颱風侵襲，隧道發生大崩塌，漫長且艱辛的修復歷程，終於在今年畫下句點。

克服惡劣條件，全線通車的最後一哩路42號隧道，終於在今年5月正式完工，打通阿里山森鐵全線的血脈。自此嘉義就可以直達阿里山，不但帶動林鐵沿線經濟，也將阿里山的美景盡收眼底。

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