Taiwan
Country Details
See Wikipedia
Railway System
There are two major rail operators.
Information for both is available at the Man in Seat 61.
Taiwan Railways Administration
TRA owns and operates the "classic" 3'6" gauge network. This forms a complete circuit around the island, with several branches.
Infrastructure
- Gauge: 1067mm (3'6")
- Electrification: 25kV 60Hz AC
- Rule of the road: not known
Information
- Website: https://www.railway.gov.tw/ Click the Language button and select English if necessary.
- Journey planner: on the website front page, or the detailed enquiry page
- Downloadable timetable: not known
- Real-time information: train operation status, includes a map
Taiwan High Speed Rail
THSR owns and operates the standard-gauge high-speed line between Taipei and Zuoying (near Kaohsiung), on the more-populated western side of the island. This line opened in 2007.
Infrastructure
- Gauge: standard (1435mm)
- Electrification: 25kV 60Hz AC
- Rule of the road: not known
Information
- Website: https://en.thsrc.com.tw/
- Journey planner: on the website front page
- Downloadable timetable: use the timetable search on the front page to access the main "Timetable and Fare Search" page; this includes a "Timetable Downloads" section.
- Real-time information: train operation status
Tourist Lines
The highly scenic Alishan Forest Railway was built as a 762mm (2'6") gauge logging railway, but is now operated as a tourist line. There is further information at Wikipedia.
Other tourist lines are listed at Wikipedia; these were also built for industrial use, either logging or sugarcane transport.
Metros and Light Rail
Taipei area
- Taipei Metro
- New Taipei Metro: light rail feeder lines for the main metro system
- Taoyuan Metro: a long Taipei - airport - Taoyuan metro route
See also UrbanRail: Taipei and Taoyuan
Kaohsiung
- Kaohsiung Metro: metro and light rail. See also UrbanRail
Taichung
- Taichung Metro. See also UrbanRail
Obscure and Sparse Passenger Services
None known
