Taiwan Train Travel

The population of Taiwan has made the rail transport system an important one. The western area is much more populated in comparison to the others and rail transport is abundant there. During the Qing Dynasty, the railway transport system was introduced in Taiwan.

The long route trains of Taiwan connect the major cities and most of the urban areas. The Taiwan Railway Administration is responsible for the passenger lines, the three branch lines as well as the freight lines. The high speed railway system usually runs in the western corridor and is based on the technology of Shinkansen. It started its operation from 5th January 2007.

The Rapid Transit System of the various urban areas is another means of important transportation in Taiwan. The Taipei Rapid Transport System is also known as Metro Taipei. It comprises of the medium rail and underground metro system that is located in the capital city of Taipei.

The CKS International Airport Access MRT System is in the process of construction and is expected to begin its service from 2012. This system will connect the main station of Taipei, the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and the Taoyuan Station.

A light rail system is provided in the downtown of Kaohsiung. The Taichung Metropolitan Area MRT System will start its service from 2011.

Some of the railroads were made for facilitating the transport of the industrial products. But in recent times these railroads have become major locations for tourists’. Some such railways are the Alishan Forest Railway, the Taiwan Sugar Railways and the Taiping Mountain Forest Railway.