Western Trunk line (Chinese: 縱貫線; pinyin: Zòngguàn xiàn; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chhiòng-koàn sòaⁿ) is a railway line of Taiwan Railway in western Taiwan.[1][2] It is by far the busiest line, having served over 171 million passengers in 2016. The total length of the line is 404.5 km (251.3 mi).

Western Trunk line
Western Trunk line in blue
Overview
Native name西部幹線
Termini
Stations134
Service
TypeConventional railway
Operator(s)Taiwan Railway Corporation
History
Opened10 August 1902
Technical
Line length420.8 km (261.5 mi)[a]
Number of tracks2 (predominantly)
Track gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Electrification25 kV/60 Hz catenary
Operating speed150 km/h (93mph)
Route map

Station
km
km
Station
0.0
Keelung
1.3
Sankeng
(Eastern Trunk line Right arrow)
3.7
Badu
6.0
Qidu
8.7
Baifu
11.7
Wudu
13.1
Xizhi
14.6
Xike
19.1
Nangang
21.9
Songshan
28.3
Taipei Taiwan High Speed Rail
31.1
Wanhua
35.5
Banqiao
38.0
Fuzhou
40.9
Shulin
42.9
South Shulin
44.8
Shanjia
49.2
Yingge
57.4
Taoyuan
63.3
Neili
67.3
Zhongli
73.1
Puxin
77.1
Yangmei
83.9
Fugang
85.6
Xinfu
87.1
Beihu
89.6
Hukou
95.8
Xinfeng
100.6
Zhubei
(Neiwan line Right arrow)
105.0
North Hsinchu
106.4
Hsinchu
111.2
Sanxingqiao
114.4
Xiangshan
120.8
Qiding
Zhunan
0.0
125.4
Zhunan
Tanwen
4.5
130.7
Zaoqiao
Dashan
11.2
136.6
Fengfu
Houlong
15.0
140.6
Miaoli
Longgang
18.6
147.2
Nanshi
Baishatun
26.7
151.4
Tongluo
Xinpu
29.8
158.8
Sanyi
Tongxiao
35.6
169.7
Tai'an
Yuanli
41.7
172.3
Houli
Rinan
49.4
179.1
Fengyuan
Dajia
54.0
181.6
Lilin
Taichung Port
59.3
184.1
Tanzi
186.0
Toujiacuo
187.7
Songzhu
189.2
Taiyuan
Qingshui
65.3
191.2
Jingwu
Shalu
68.5
193.3
Taichung
195.3
Wuquan
Longjing
73.1
197.5
Daqing
200.5
Wuri
Dadu
78.1
201.3
Xinwuri Taiwan High Speed Rail
Zhuifen
83.1
203.8
Chenggong
(Left arrow Chengzhui line Right arrow)
Changhua
90.2
210.9
Changhua
217.5
Huatan
222.1
Dacun
225.6
Yuanlin
229.1
Yongjing
232.8
Shetou
237.1
Tianzhong
242.9
Ershui
(Jiji line Right arrow)
251.0
Linnei
255.8
Shiliu
260.6
Douliu
268.2
Dounan
272.1
Shigui
276.7
Dalin
282.5
Minxiong
289.2
Jiabei
291.8
Chiayi
298.4
Shuishang
301.0
Nanjing
307.0
Houbi
314.7
Xinying
318.0
Liuying
321.9
Linfengying
327.4
Longtian
329.6
Balin
334.2
Shanhua
337.1
Nanke
341.8
Xinshi
346.8
Yongkang
350.5
Daqiao
353.2
Tainan
360.8
Bao'an
362.2
Rende
364.8
Zhongzhou
(Shalun line Right arrow)
367.7
Dahu
370.6
Luzhu
378.4
Gangshan
382.0
Qiaotou
386.2
Nanzi
391.3
Xinzuoying Taiwan High Speed Rail
393.2
Zuoying
394.4
Neiwei
396.1
Museum of Fine Arts
397.3
Gushan
399.0
Sankuaicuo
399.8
Kaohsiung
401.2
Minzu
402.2
Sci-tech Museum
404.0
Zhengyi
405.6
Fengshan
409.3
Houzhuang
413.6
Jiuqutang
418.6
Liukuaicuo
420.8
Pingtung
(Down arrow South-link line)

The line is an official classification of physical tracks and does not correspond to particular services. It is connected to Taichung line (mountain line; 山線) at Zhunan and Changhua. Many services turn inland to take the Taichung route, then reconnect back to the main line (West Coast line). Train schedules and departure boards mark either mountain or coastal (海線) line to indicate the route taken.

History

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The original railroad between Keelung and Twatutia was completed in 1891. The section between Twatutia and Hsinchu was finished in 1893. However, in the Japanese era, these sections were all rebuilt by the Government-General of Taiwan as part of its Taiwan Trunk Railway (縱貫鐵道, Jūkan Tetsudō) project. The Taiwan Trunk Railway was completed in 1908 with route from Kīrun (基隆, Keelung) through Taihoku (臺北, Taipei), Shinchiku (新竹, Hsinchu), Taichū (臺中, Taichung), Tainan (臺南, Tainan), to Takao (高雄, Kaohsiung).

The Taiwan Trunk Railway at that time went through all major cities in western Taiwan. However, the terrain around Taichū (Taichung) created a significant bottleneck for rail freight transport. To resolve this issue, the Government-General of Taiwan decided to build a Coastal Line (海岸線, Kaigan-sen) between Chikunan (竹南, Zhunan) and Shōka (彰化, Changhua) to relieve the congestion. The construction of the Coastal Line was started in 1919 and completed in 1922. The Coastal Line then became a part of the main West Coast Line, and the original railway through Taichū (Taichung) was named as a separate line (Taichung line).

Due to service patterns, the following lines are often collectively referred to as the Western main line (Chinese: 西部幹線; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Se-pō͘ Kàn-sòaⁿ)

Name Chinese Taiwanese Hakka Length Terminus
West Coast line 縱貫線 Chhiòng-koàn Sòaⁿ Chiúng-kon Sien 404.5 km (251.3 mi) from Keelung to Kaohsiung
Taichung line 臺中線 Tâi-tiong Sòaⁿ Thòi-chûng Sien 85.5 km (53.1 mi) from Zhunan to Changhua (via Taichung)
Pingtung line 屏東線 Pîn-tong Sòaⁿ Phìn-tûng Sien 61.3 km (38.1 mi) from Kaohsiung to Fangliao

Stations

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Name Chinese Taiwanese Hakka Transfers and Notes Location
Keelung 基隆 Ke-lâng Kî-lùng Ren'ai Keelung
Sankeng 三坑 Saⁿ-kheⁿ Sâm-hâng
Badu 八堵 Peh-tó͘ Pat-tú   Yilan line Nuannuan
Qidu 七堵 Chhit-tó͘ Chhit-tú Qidu
Baifu 百福 Pah-hok Pak-fuk
Wudu 五堵 Gō͘-tó͘ Ńg-tú Xizhi New Taipei
Xizhi 汐止 Se̍k-chí Sip-chṳ́
Xike 汐科 Se̍k-kho Sip-khô
Nangang 南港 Lâm-káng Nàm-kóng   Nangang
   Nangang
Nangang Taipei
Songshan 松山 Siông-san Chhiùng-sân    Songshan Songshan
Taipei 臺北 Tâi-pak Thòi-pet   Taipei
    Taipei Main
  Taipei Main (200m)
Zhongzheng
Wanhua 萬華 Bān-hôa Van-fà    Longshan Temple Wanhua
Banqiao 板橋 Pang-kiô Pán-khiâu   Banqiao
   Banqiao
Banqiao New Taipei
Fuzhou 浮洲 Phû-chiu Feù-chû
Shulin 樹林 Chhiū-nâ Su-lìm Shulin
South Shulin 南樹林 Lâm-chhiū-nâ Nàm Su-lìm
Shanjia 山佳 Soaⁿ-á-kha Sân-kâ
Yingge 鶯歌 Eng-ko Yîn-kô Yingge
Taoyuan 桃園 Thô-hn̂g Thò-yèn Taoyuan Taoyuan
Neili 內壢 Lāi-le̍k Nui-la̍k Zhongli
Zhongli 中壢 Tiong-le̍k Chûng-la̍k   Zhongli (u/c)
Puxin 埔心 Po͘-sim Pu-sîm Yangmei
Yangmei 楊梅 Iûⁿ-mûi Yòng-mòi
Fugang 富岡 Hù-kong Fu-kông
Xinfu 新富 Sin-hù Sîn-fu
Beihu 北湖 Pak-ô͘ Pet-fù Hukou Hsinchu
County
Hukou 湖口 Ô͘-kháu Fù-khiéu
Xinfeng 新豐 Sin-hong Sîn-fûng Xinfeng
Zhubei 竹北 Tek-pak Chuk-pet Zhubei
North Hsinchu 北新竹 Pak Sin-tek Pet Sîn-chuk   Neiwan line East Hsinchu
Hsinchu 新竹 Sin-tek Sîn-chuk   Neiwan line
Sanxingqiao 三姓橋 Saⁿ-sèⁿ-kiô Sâm-siang-khiâu Xiangshan
Xiangshan 香山 Hiong-san Hiông-sân
Qiding 崎頂 Kiā-téng Khi-táng Zhunan Miaoli
County
Zhunan 竹南 Tek-lâm Chuk-nàm   Taichung line
Tanwen 談文 Tâm-bûn Thàm-vùn Zaoqiao
Dashan 大山 Tōa-soaⁿ Thai-sân Houlong
Houlong 後龍 Āu-lâng Heu-liùng
Longgang 龍港 Lêng-káng Liùng-kóng
Baishatun 白沙屯 Pe̍h-soa-tūn Pha̍k-sâ-thûn Tongxiao
Xinpu 新埔 Sin-po͘ Sîn-phû
Tongxiao 通霄 Thong-siau Thûng-siau
Yuanli 苑裡 Oán-lí Yén-lî Yuanli
Rinan 日南 Ji̍t-lâm Ngit-nàm Dajia Taichung
Dajia 大甲 Tāi-kah Thai-kap
Taichung Port 臺中港 Tâi-tiong-káng Thòi-chûng-kóng Qingshui
Qingshui 清水 Chheng-chúi Chhîn-súi
Shalu 沙鹿 Soa-lak Sâ-lu̍k Shalu
Longjing 龍井 Liông-chéⁿ Liùng-chiáng Longjing
Dadu 大肚 Tōa-tō͘ Thai-tú Dadu
Zhuifen 追分 Tui-hun Tûi-fûn   Chengzhui line (to Taichung line)
Changhua 彰化 Chiong-hoà Chông-fa   Taichung line Changhua Changhua
County
Huatan 花壇 Hoe-toâⁿ Fâ-thàn Huatan
Dacun 大村 Tāi-chhoan Thai-chhûn Dacun
Yuanlin 員林 Oân-lîm Yèn-lìm Yuanlin
Yongjing 永靖 Éng-chēng Yún-chhìn Yongjing
Shetou 社頭 Siā-thâu Sa-theù Shetou
Tianzhong 田中 Tiân-tiong Thièn-chûng Tianzhong
Ershui 二水 Jī-chúi Ngi-súi   Jiji line Ershui
Linnei 林內 Nâ-lāi Lìm-nui Linnei Yunlin
County
Shiliu 石榴 Chio̍h-liû Sa̍k-liû Douliu
Douliu 斗六 Táu-la̍k Teú-liuk
Dounan 斗南 Táu-lâm Teú-nàm Dounan
Shigui 石龜 Chio̍h-ku Sa̍k-kuî
Dalin 大林 Tōa-nâ Thai-lìm Dalin Chiayi
County
Minxiong 民雄 Bîn-hiông Mìn-hiùng Minxiong
Jiabei 嘉北 Ka-pak Kâ-pet East Chiayi
Chiayi 嘉義 Ka-gī Kâ-ngi     Alishan Forest Railway West
Shuishang 水上 Chúi-siōng Súi-sông Shuishang Chiayi
County
Nanjing 南靖 Lâm-chēng Nàm-chhìn
Houbi 後壁 Āu-piah Heu-piak Houbi Tainan
Xinying 新營 Sin-iâⁿ Sîn-yàng Xinying
Liuying 柳營 Liú-iâⁿ Liú-yàng Liouying
Linfengying 林鳳營 Lîm-hōng-iâⁿ Lìm-fung-yàng Lioujia
Longtian 隆田 Liông-tiân Lùng-thièn Guantian
Balin 拔林 Pa̍t-á-nâ Pha̍t-lìm
Shanhua 善化 Siān-hòa San-fa Shanhua
Nanke 南科 Lâm-kho Nàm-khô Xinshi
Xinshi 新市 Sin-chhī Sîn-sṳ
Yongkang 永康 Éng-khong Yún-không Yongkang
Daqiao 大橋 Tōa-kiô Thai-khiâu
Tainan 臺南 Tâi-lâm Thòi-nàm East
Bao'an 保安 Pó-an Pó-ôn Rende
Rende 仁德 Jîn-tek Yìn-tet
Zhongzhou 中洲 Tiong-chiu Chûng-chû   Shalun line
Dahu 大湖 Tōa-ô͘ Thai-fù Lujhu Kaohsiung
Luzhu 路竹 Lō͘-tek Lu-chuk
Gangshan 岡山 Kong-san Kông-sân Gangshan
Qiaotou 橋頭 Kiô-á-thâu Khiâu-thèu     Ciaotou Ciaotou
Nanzi 楠梓 Lâm-á-kheⁿ Nâm-chṳ́ Nanzi
Xinzuoying 新左營 Sin-chó-iâⁿ Sîn-chó-yàng     Zuoying
    Zuoying/THSR
Zuoying
Zuoying–Jiucheng 左營·舊城 Chó-iâⁿ (Kū-siâⁿ) Chó-yàng (Khiu-sàng)
Neiwei 內惟 Lāi-ûi Nui-vì Gushan
Museum of
Fine Arts
美術館 Bí-su̍t-koán Mî-su̍t-kón
Gushan 鼓山 Kó͘-san Kú-sân
Sankuaicuo 三塊厝 Saⁿ-tè-chhù Sân-khoài-chhṳ̀ Sanmin
Kaohsiung 高雄 Ko-hiông Kô-hiùng   Pingtung line
    Kaohsiung Main

Notes

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  1. ^ Keelung to Pingtung via Taichung

References

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  1. ^ "About TRA". Taiwan Railways Administration.MOC. December 11, 2008. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  2. ^ "Statistics". 交通部臺灣鐵路管理局 (in Chinese). December 11, 2008. Retrieved 1 March 2017.