Alishan Forest Railway reopens branch lines on 24 October
Published on 10/24/2026 at 11:23 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSStorm recovery and route history
- Branch services resumed at Alishan Forest Railway on 24 October 2026 under the railway office.
- The main line and Zhushan Line were scheduled to return on 25 October 2026 after route inspections.
- The railway began operations between Chiayi and Erwanping in 1912 and later reached Jhaoping.
- The 71.34 km route crosses Chiayi City, Chiayi County and Nantou County while climbing above 2,000 metres.
Services on Alishan Forest Railway resumed in Chiayi, Taiwan, on 24 October 2026 after Typhoon Champi, with the reopening covering two branch lines. The operator’s English name identifies the railway as a route linking Chiayi with the Alishan mountain area.
The announcement gives travellers a precise change for visits during the late-October travel window. The main line remains suspended on 24 October, while the railway’s branch services restart in stages.
Alishan Forest Railway reopens after storm checks
The Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office announced on 24 October that the Zhaoping and Shenmu branch lines would resume from 1pm. The decision followed route inspections and clearing work after the typhoon warning ended in Chiayi County and Chiayi City.
The same notice states that the main line between Chiayi and Alishan, together with the Zhushan Line, is scheduled to resume on 25 October. The operator’s 24 October reopening notice therefore separates partial access on the first day from normal operations planned for the following day.
The change follows a temporary suspension announced after Typhoon Champi brought heavy rain and strong winds to Taiwan. The storm-related disruption affected the main route between Chiayi and Alishan, while branch operations depended on the opening of the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area.
Railway history shapes the reopening story
The railway is more than a transport link to a mountain recreation area. The national heritage register describes a 71.34 km route passing through Chiayi City, Chiayi County and Nantou County, with the line rising from below 100 metres to more than 2,000 metres above sea level.
Construction began in 1906, and the first section between Chiayi and Erwanping opened in 1912. The route reached Jhaoping by 1914, creating a railway shaped by forestry, mountain engineering and later tourism. Its alignment includes spirals, U-turns and Z-shaped switchbacks that respond to the steep terrain.
The railway’s historical role helps explain why a short operational notice matters beyond a timetable. The reopening concerns a cultural landscape whose stations, tracks and surrounding settlements record the transformation of the Alishan mountains from a timber-producing region into a visitor destination. The heritage register entry records the route’s historical development and its potential World Heritage significance.
Visiting Alishan Forest Railway: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The reopening takes place in stages: the Zhaoping and Shenmu lines resume on 24 October 2026 from 1pm, while the main line and Zhushan Line are scheduled for 25 October 2026.
- On 24 October, the main line remains suspended and the Zhushan Line does not operate. Branch services are linked to the opening of the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area.
- Chiayi Station is the railway’s lower-elevation interchange with Taiwan Railway. The route continues into the Alishan mountains through forest, tunnels, curves and steep sections.
- The railway climbs from below 100 metres to above 2,000 metres, so journeys involve substantial changes in elevation and mountain terrain.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Alishan Forest Railway on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Alishan Forest Railway
What changed at Alishan Forest Railway?
The Zhaoping and Shenmu branch lines resumed on 24 October 2026 after route inspections and clearing work following Typhoon Champi.
When will Alishan Forest Railway’s main line reopen?
The operator scheduled the main line between Chiayi and Alishan to resume on 25 October 2026.
Where is Alishan Forest Railway and how do you get there?
The railway begins at Chiayi Station in Taiwan and continues into the Alishan mountains. Chiayi Station connects with Taiwan Railway.
