Pingxi Line Suspended Due to Weather Damage: Bus Services to Replace Trains

Taiwan Railway Corp. Ltd. announces extended closure of scenic line due to erosion and slope movement, impacting holiday travel.

Train services on Taiwan's picturesque Pingxi Line have been temporarily suspended until midnight on Sunday, October 26th. Taiwan Railway Corp. Ltd. announced the closure due to significant track bed erosion and slope movement, directly attributed to recent heavy rainfall.

Continuous downpours throughout the week have caused frequent rockfalls and landslides along the seven-stop Pingxi Line, which runs between Sandiaoling and Jingtong in New Taipei. The railway operator confirmed that slope instability was observed between Sandiaoling and Dahua stations, while approximately 100 meters of track bed was washed away between Wanggu and Lingjiao stations.

Following an expert inspection on Thursday, the decision was made to commence emergency slope reinforcement work only after weather conditions stabilize. The Pingxi Line, a 12.9-kilometer route celebrated for its scenic beauty and historic stations, has been closed since Monday due to the ongoing risk of landslides.

This latest announcement coincides with Taiwan's three-day holiday, commemorating Taiwan Retrocession Day on October 25th, potentially affecting travel plans for many.

To ensure continued accessibility, Taiwan Railway has implemented a bus replacement service that will operate between all stops on the Pingxi Line, including Ruifang, Shifen, Wanggu, Lingjiao, Pingxi, and Jingtong. These services will run on a round-trip basis.

Specific bus departure times from Ruifang are scheduled for 7:10 a.m., 9:10 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. From Jingtong Station, departures are at 8:10 a.m., 10:10 a.m., 3 p.m., 5:10 p.m., and 7 p.m.

Furthermore, from October 27th to November 30th, weekday train services on the entire Pingxi Line will be replaced by shuttle buses. During weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) within this period, trains will operate between Ruifang and Shifen, with bus services connecting Shifen and Jingtong.

Passengers are strongly advised to check the latest service updates on the official Taiwan Railway website, via their 24-hour customer service hotlines (02-2191-0096 or 0800-765-888), or at local stations before commencing their journeys.