TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The first phase of service resumption on Taiwan Railways’ Jiji Branch Line began Monday, with trains running as far as Jiji Station and full service to Checheng Station expected in July.

Taiwan Railways held a ceremony at the plaza in front of Jiji Station to mark the first-phase reopening, per CNA. A special train departed Taichung Station in the morning, attracting hundreds of rail enthusiasts who rode the train and photographed its special exterior livery.

Nantou County Magistrate Hsu Shu-hua (許淑華) said Jiji Township recorded over one million tourist visits in 2019, but the number fell to just over 100,000 last year. Factors included the suspension of the line, the domestic COVID outbreak, and overall tourism policies, though she expressed hope resuming service would help revitalize the local economy.

Taiwan Railways said the reopening marks a key milestone in reconstruction work on the branch line. As part of the infrastructure improvement project, work on tunnels No. 2 and 3 has been completed, including structural reinforcement, slope stabilization, and overall enhancements to operational safety.

The project runs from 2019 through December 2027, with a total budget of NT$3.589 billion (US$114.1 million). Between Zhuoshui Station and Jiji Station, improvements include clearance expansion in Tunnel No. 1, drainage upgrades, slope and retaining wall improvements, bridge upgrades, new fencing, and renovations to the station plazas at Ershui and Jiji.

Between Jiji Station and Checheng Station, work includes clearance expansion in tunnels No. 2, 3, 4, and 5, restoration of damaged sections in tunnels No. 2 and 3, and reinforcement of Zhongxing Tunnel and Tunnel No. 6. Additional improvements include drainage, slope stabilization, and retaining wall upgrades along the line.

The Jiji Branch Line starts at Ershui Station in Changhua County, passes Yuanquan Station, and enters Nantou County at Zhuoshui Station before continuing through Longquan, Jiji, and Shuili stations and terminating at Checheng Station. In August 2021, a slope collapse at the 11.5-kilometer marker on Provincial Highway 16 buried and collapsed sections of tunnels along the parallel branch line.

Disaster repair and reconstruction work followed, and service between Jiji and Checheng stations remained suspended until Monday.