TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan Railway Corp on Thursday restored full service on its scenic Jiji Line after more than four years.
The line now operates its full route between Ershui Station in Changhua County and Checheng Station in Nantou County, per CNA. Service between Jiji and Checheng had been suspended since August 2021 after heavy rain triggered a slope collapse that buried and damaged a tunnel.
The Jiji Line infrastructure improvement project, running from 2019 through 2027, has a budget of NT$3.6 billion (US$121 million), according to CNA. President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said upgrades to the roadbed, slopes, drainage systems, and tunnels have made the century-old railway more resilient than before.
Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) rode the line from Ershui to Checheng and said the journey was smooth and showcased the route's tourism appeal, CNA reported. He said visitor numbers to Jiji Township fell by about 80% during the suspension and hoped that the resumption of full service would revive tourism in Jiji, Shuili, and Checheng.
Chen added the planned Tianzhong Branch Line is expected to be completed in 2029, linking Taiwan High Speed Rail's Changhua Station with Nantou's mountain region via the Jiji Line.
