Western Line, Taiwan

The Western Line (西部幹線) is a railway line of the Taiwan Railway Administration running along Taiwan's densely populated western corridor. As a result of this, it remains the busiest rail line in Taiwan. In 2009, the line served over 164.3 million passengers, averaging 450,244 passengers per day.[1]

The concept "Western Line" is actually a combination of line sections as the following:

The total length of the combined line of Taiwan Trunk Line is 408.5 km, of which 361.6 km is double track.[2]

Contents

History

The original railroad between Keelung and Dadaocheng was completed in 1891. The section between Dadaocheng and Hsinchu was finished in 1893. However, these sections were all rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century. The Western Line was completed in 1908. The Coastal Line, which was finished in 1922, was used to relieve congestion near Taichung.

Stations on the Northern Section

Northern Section of Western Line, Taiwan
Legend
km Station
0.0 Keelung
1.2 Sankeng
Connecting to the Yilan Line
3.7 Badu
5.6 Qidu
8.8 Baifu
Keelung City - New Taipei City border
11.9 Wudu
13.1 Xizhi
14.4 Xike
New Taipei City - Taipei City border
18.7 Nangang
22.2 Songshan
28.3 Taipei
31.1 Wanhua
Taipei City - New Taipei City border
35.5 Banqiao
38.0 Fuzhou
40.9 Shulin
44.7 Shanjia
49.2 Yingge
New Taipei City - Taoyuan County border
Connecting to the Linkou Line
57.4 Taoyuan
63.5 Neili
67.3 Zhongli
73.2 Puxin
77.2 Yangmei
84.1 Fugang
Taoyuan County - Hsinchu County border
89.8 Hukou
95.9 Xinfeng
100.9 Zhubei
Hsinchu County - Hsinchu City border
Connecting to the Neiwan Line
105.0 North Hsinchu
106.7 Hsinchu
114.8 Xiangshan
Hsinchu County - Miaoli County border
121.2 Qiding
125.7 Zhunan
Connecting to the Taichung Line,
and the Coastal Line
Station Name Transfers and Notes Location
Hanyu Tongyong Chinese
Keelung 基隆 Ren'ai District Keelung City
Sankeng 三坑
Badu 八堵 → Connecting to the Yilan Line Nuannuan District
Qidu Cidu 七堵 Qidu District
Baifu 百福
Wudu 五堵 Xizhi District New Taipei City
Xizhi Sijhih 汐止
Xike Sike 汐科
Nangang 南港 Taipei Metro Blue Line: Nangang
Taiwan High Speed Rail: Nangang (planned)
Nangang District Taipei City
Songshan 松山 Taipei Metro Green Line: Songshan (planned) Songshan District
Taipei 臺北 Taipei Metro Red Line: Taipei Main Station
Taipei Metro Blue Line: Taipei Main Station
Taoyuan Airpor MRT: Taipei (planned)
Taiwan High Speed Rail: Taipei
Zhongzheng District
Wanhua 萬華 Taipei Metro Blue Line: Longshan Temple (exterior) Wanhua District
Banqiao Banciao 板橋 Taipei Metro Blue Line: Banqiao
Taipei Metro Yellow Line: Banqiao (planned)
Taiwan High Speed Rail: Banciao
Banqiao District New Taipei City
Fuzhou Fujhou 浮洲 Shulin District
Shulin 樹林
Shanjia 山佳
Yingge 鶯歌 Yingge District
Taoyuan 桃園 → Connecting to the Linkou Line Taoyuan City Taoyuan County
Neili 內壢 Zhongli City
Zhongli Jhongli 中壢 Taoyuan MRT Blue Line: Zhongli (planned)
Puxin Pusin 埔心 Yangmei City
Yangmei 楊梅
Fugang 富岡
Hukou 湖口 Hukou Hsinchu County
Xinfeng Sinfong 新豐 Xinfeng
Zhubei Jhubei 竹北 Zhubei City
North Hsinchu 北新竹 → Connecting to the Neiwan Line East District Hsinchu City
Hsinchu 新竹 → Connecting to the Neiwan Line
Xiangshan Siangshan 香山 Xiangshan District
Qiding Ciding 崎頂 Zhunan Miaoli County
Zhunan Jhunan 竹南 → Connecting to the Taichung Line
→ Connecting to the Coastal Line

Stations on the Coastal Line

Lines between Zhunan and Changhua
Legend
Connecting to the Northern Section
Zhunan
Coastal Line
Mountain Line
Tanwen
Zaoqiao
Dashan
Fengfu
Houlong
Miaoli
Longgang
Nanshi
Baishatun
Tongluo
Xinpu
Sanyi
Tongxiao
Miaoli County - Taichung City border
Miaoli County - Taichung City border
Tai'an
Yuanli
Houli
Rinan
Fengyuan
Dajia
Tanzi
Connecting to Taichung Port Line
Taichung Port
Taiyuan
Qingshui
Taichung
Shalu
Daqing
Longjing
Wuri
Dadu
Xinwuri
Zhuifen
Chenggong
Chengzhui Line
Taichung City - Changhua County border
Changhua
Connecting to the Southern Section

There are two routes between Zhunan Station and Changhua Station. They are typically referred as the Coastal line and the Mountain line.

The coastal line is designated as the main line while the hill line is officially called Taichung Line. Nonetheless, the traffic and operation standard in the mount line is much heavier than that in the coastal line, because it passes largest city Taichung in central Taiwan and all section are double tracks.

Station Name Transfers and Notes Location
Hanyu Tongyong Chinese
Zhunan Jhunan 竹南 → Connecting to the Northern Section
→ Connecting to the Taichung Line
Zhunan Miaoli
County
Tanwen Tanwun 談文 Zaoqiao
Dashan 大山 Houlong
Houlong 後龍
Longgang 龍港
Baishatun 白沙屯 Tongxiao
Xinpu Sinpu 新埔
Tongxiao Tongsiao 通霄
Yuanli 苑裡 Yuanli
Rinan Rihnan 日南 Dajia District Taichung
City
Dajia 大甲
Taichung Port 臺中港 → Connecting to the Taichung Port Line Qingshui District
Qingshui Cingshuei 清水
Shalu 沙鹿 Shalu District
Longjing 龍井 Longjing District
Dadu 大肚 Dadu District
Zhuifen Jhueifen 追分 → Connecting to the Chengzhui Line
Changhua 彰化 → Connecting to the Southern Section
→ Connecting to the Taichung Line
Changhua City Changhua
County

Stations on the Mountain Line (Taichung Line)

Stations on the Southern Section

Southern Section of Western Line, Taiwan
Legend
Connecting to the Taichung Line,
and the Coastal Line
216.9 Changhua
217.8 Huatan
222.4 Dacun
225.9 Yuanlin
229.3 Yongjing
233.1 Shetou
237.4 Tianzhong
243.2 Ershui
Connecting to the Jiji Line
Changhua County - Yunlin County border
251.4 Linnei
256.4 Shiliu
260.9 Douliu
268.6 Dounan
272.5 Shigui
Yunlin County - Chiayi County border
277.1 Dalin
282.9 Minxiong
Chiayi County - Chiayi City border
289.6 Jiabei
Transfer to the Alishan Forest Railway
292.2 Chiayi
Chiayi City - Chiayi County border
298.7 Shuishang
301.4 Nanjing
Chiayi County - Tainan City border
307.5 Houbi
315.2 Xinying
318.6 Liuying
322.4 Linfengying
327.9 Longtian
330.2 Balin
334.5 Shanhua
342.3 Xinshi
347.3 Yongkang
351.2 Daqiao
353.7 Tainan
361.3 Bao'an
365.3 Zhongzhou
Connecting to the Shalun Line
Tainan City - Kaohsiung City border
368.2 Dahu
371.2 Luzhu
378.5 Gangshan
382.5 Qiaotou
386.6 Nanzi
391.7 Xinzuoying
393.6 Zuoying
397.8 Gushan
Kaohsiung Port
400.4 Kaohsiung
Connecting to the Pingtung Line
Station Name Transfers and Notes Location
Hanyu Tongyong Chinese
Changhua 彰化 → Connecting to the Taichung Line
→ Connecting to the Coastal Line
Changhua City Changhua
County
Huatan 花壇 Huatan
Dacun 大村 Dacun
Yuanlin 員林 Yuanlin
Yongjing 永靖 Yongjing
Shetou 社頭 Shetou
Tianzhong Tianjhong 田中 Tianzhong
Ershui Ershuei 二水 → Connecting to the Jiji Line Ershui
Linnei 林內 Linnei Yunlin
County
Shiliu Shihliou 石榴 Douliu City
Douliu Douliou 斗六
Dounan 斗南 Dounan
Shigui Shihguei 石龜
Dalin 大林 Dalin Chiayi
County
Minxiong Minsyong 民雄 Minxiong
Jiabei 嘉北 East District Chiayi
City
Chiayi 嘉義 Alishan Forest Railway
Chiayi Bus Rapid Transit
West District
Shuishang Shueishang 水上 Shuishang Chiayi
County
Nanjing 南靖
Houbi 後壁 Houbi District Tainan
City
Xinying Sinying 新營 Xinying District
Liuying Liouying 柳營 Liuying District
Linfengying Linfongying 林鳳營 Liujia District
Longtian 隆田 Guantian District
Balin 拔林
Shanhua 善化 Shanhua District
Nanke 南科 Xinshi District
Xinshi Sinshih 新市
Yongkang 永康 Yongkang District
Daqiao Daciao 大橋
Tainan 臺南 East District
Bao'an Bao-an 保安 Rende District
Zhongzhou Jhongjhou 中洲 → Connecting to the Shalun Line
Dahu 大湖 Luzhu District Kaohsiung
City
Luzhu Lujhu 路竹
Gangshan 岡山 KMRT Red Line: RK1 Gangshan (Planned) Gangshan District
Qiaotou Ciaotou 橋頭 KMRT Red Line: R23 Ciaotou Station Qiaotou District
Nanzi Nanzih 楠梓 Nanzi District
Xinzuoying New Zuoying 新左營 KMRT Red Line: R16 Zuoying/THSR
Taiwan High Speed Rail: Zuoying
Zuoying District
Zuoying 左營
Gushan 鼓山 Gushan District
Kaohsiung 高雄 → Connecting to the Pingtung Line
KMRT Red Line: R11 Kaohsiung Main Station
Taiwan High Speed Rail: Kaohsiung (planned)
Sanmin District

Stations on the Pingtung Line

References