Alishan Express Unveils Japanese Livery for 40th Anniversary

The Alishan Express has undergone a significant transformation, now adorned in the distinctive livery of Japan’s Ikawa Line. This change commemorates the 40th anniversary of the partnership between the Alishan Forest Railway and Japan’s Oigawa Railway. The Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office announced this exciting development on Friday.

The Oigawa Railway became the first international sister railway of the Alishan Forest Railway when then-Forestry Bureau director-general Hsu Chi-yu and former Oigawa Railway Co president Taizo Goto signed the agreement in Chiayi County on January 24, 1986. Both railways are celebrated for their breathtaking mountain vistas, rich histories, and cultural significance. Over the decades, the relationship has flourished, with both parties engaging in exchanges related to train maintenance, operations, tourism, and the preservation of cultural heritage.

To celebrate their enduring friendship, the four cars of the Alishan Express have been repainted in a vibrant red, reminiscent of the trains on the Ikawa Line of the Oigawa Railway. Starting from today, the newly decorated train will operate between Chiayi and Alishan stations. Passengers will be able to journey through the misty highland forests of Alishan, evoking the charm typical of the Oigawa Railway.

Trains on the Oigawa Railway, located in Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture, feature vintage passenger cars pulled by steam locomotives. These trains boast wooden seating, vintage ceiling fans, and various onboard novelty items. The Alishan Express aims to replicate this experience, providing its passengers with a taste of nostalgic travel.

Additionally, the Alishan Forest Railway will introduce several excursion packages, including themed dinner trips, nighttime voyages, and leisure cruises. According to Wang Chao-pao, director of the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office, this marks the first occasion that the railway’s trains will adopt a foreign livery, signifying the 40-year bond between the two railways.

Looking ahead, the Alishan Forest Railway intends to continue its technical and cultural exchanges with the Oigawa Railway while jointly promoting railway tourism. The railway itself is recognized as Taiwan’s first national cultural landscape area, connecting 20 stations significant for their ecological, industrial, or cultural importance. Spanning over 70 kilometers, it extends from Chiayi Station at an elevation of 30 meters to Jhushan Station at 2,451 meters above sea level.

Last year, the Alishan Forest Railway was acknowledged as one of the world’s 200 most significant railway journeys in the publication “Epic Train Trips of the World” by Lonely Planet. This acknowledgment highlights the railway’s importance not only within Taiwan but also on a global scale.