TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The arrival of Typhoon Gaemi on July 24 disrupted both railway and highway service between Hualien and Yilan on Taiwan’s east coast.

While the Suhua Highway opened seven days later (July 31) after clearing debris and rocks on roadways, progress has been more difficult on railway tracks. Hualien’s Chongde and Heren Stations experienced between 5,000 and 20,000 cubic meters of fallen debris, respectively. Nearby Xiaoqingshui Bridge also suffered severe damage, with 15 cubic meters of debris falling on the eastern track.

After nine days of repair work, Taiwan Railway's North Link Line began single-track, bidirectional service on Friday (Aug. 2). The first train bound for Taipei’s Shulin departed at 5:54 a.m., with many passengers thanking the railway for their hard work in restoring services, per CNA.

Several B&B operators in Hualien have cheered the resumption of service, taking Thai guests to the train station for their return trips home. The same joy was felt by local Taiwanese who have faced traffic disruption.

For a man surnamed Hsieh (謝) who lives in Yilan and works in Hualien, the railway service interruption left him unable to return home for two weeks. He even considered boarding a boat for the return trip but canceled such plans after learning the railway line had been restored.

Another man, surnamed Chen (陳), who was waiting to board a train along the line, was quoted as saying it was faster to travel by train from Hualien to Taipei, and there were many trains each day. Previously, such a trip would take six hours as he would have to first travel southward, but now that the line has been reopened, he can cut his travel time in half.

Taiwan Railways Hualien Station Director Huang Wen-tian (黄文天) said delays may be experienced between Chongde and Heren as the line opens due to slower travel or single-lane traffic, with average delays ranging between 20 and 30 minutes. Starting on Aug. 30, train timetables will be adjusted, making it easier for people to plan their itinerary.