TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Alishan forest railway is conducting tests for a new train expected to go into service in July, reports said Wednesday.

The first locomotive and five carriages of the new “Senli” (森里) train set will travel between Chiayi City and Alishan Station, while some of the original Alishan trains will provide services stopping at each station. Trial services for the new train will continue for 40 days from March, with at least 30 days of normal service required to gain approval from the Ministry of Transportation, per CNA.

The first “Senli” train set arrived in August 2025, with the delivery of all five locomotives and 26 carriages expected to be completed in June. All new trains will gradually enter service in September and October.

The Alishan trains will be transferred to services centered on Fenqihu Station and other smaller stations along the line. As the construction of a depot at Zhuqi Station will take until 2027, four stations in the area will still have to wait until next year before trains stop there.