Scenic Jiji Line partially resumes service after 4-year closure

Taipei, Jan. 5 (CNA) Taiwan Railways' (TR) Jiji Line, a popular tourist railway, partially resumed service on Monday, with trains running again to Jiji Station in Nantou County after being suspended for more than four years due to natural disaster damage.

The Jiji Line runs 29.7 kilometers from Ershui Station in Changhua County and crosses eastward into Nantou County, serving stops including Zhuoshui, Jiji, Shuili and the terminal station Checheng.

The first stage of service resumption covers the section from Ershui to Jiji Station, TR said. Each day, 11 trains will run to Jiji Station, with 12 going in the opposite direction.

This will support both tourism and local commuting needs, TR said.

Full service to Checheng Station, a popular tourism destination, is expected to resume around July after remaining works are completed, TR added.

The line was partially shut down in August 2021 after torrential rain and earthquakes triggered a major landslide along Provincial Highway No. 16. The collapse buried and damaged tunnels and tracks running parallel to the highway, forcing the suspension of rail services between Jiji and Checheng.

Several tunnels on the line, built more than 80 years ago, also suffered from long-term issues such as water leakage, insufficient clearance and poor track alignment, prompting TR to carry out a comprehensive safety overhaul.

Major repair and reinforcement works began in 2024 and were completed late last year, allowing the first-stage reopening ahead of the Lunar New Year in February.

To mark the resumption, TR operated a special service to Jiji on Monday, drawing railway enthusiasts and visitors.

Once the remaining section is reopened, TR said the upgraded infrastructure will support safer operations and allow larger trains to run, helping revive tourism and strengthen transportation links for communities along the line.