Local historians, hotel managers, and officials from Chiayi County Government, Chiayi Forest District Office and Alishan National Scenic Area Administration attended the ceremony at Fenchihu station organized by Hungtu Alishan International Co. Ltd., the railway's operator. During the event Chang Yao-jen, the company's general manager, presented 16 railway workers with certificates as tokens of appreciation for their over 30-year service.
The company's executives said that the repair work on the damaged section of the narrow-gauge railway between Fenchihu and Alishan was completed Nov. 25, 2008. Test runs confirmed the railway was safe to resume passenger services. According to a Hungtu employee, though the section between the two stations reopened Dec. 25, the whole route will not begin to operate until Jan. 16.
The Alishan National Scenic Area is one of the most popular tourist spots in Taiwan, attracting an average 800,000 visitors every year. The national park is famous for its hiking trails, the sunrise over the mountain peaks and the ride on the forest railway.
The 72-kilometer long Alishan Forest Railway runs from Chiayi to Alishan, climbing from a 30-meter altitude to over 2,000 meters above sea level in three and a half hours. The mountain train takes passengers through tropical, subtropical and temperate forests and offers stunning mountain views. The passengers' cars are much shorter than ordinary ones to allow the train to round the narrow bends.
Development of the railway started in the late 19th century, during the Japanese occupation (1895-1945). It was built originally to haul timber down the mountain after a Japanese came upon a colossal red cedar estimated to be around 3,000 years old in 1896, which led to the discovery of the forest reserve. Construction of the railway began in 1906 and started operations Dec. 25, 1912.
Currently the railway is operated in a build-operate-transfer mode. In June last year, the Forestry Bureau under the Council of Agriculture transferred the operation rights to Hungtu Alishan International Co., Ltd. Under the BOT project, Hungtu is expected to privatize the railway and develop the Alishan area until 2039. The government hoped the deal would boost revenues and increase the number of visitors, as the railway had been in the red for a decade, losing around US$6.5 million on average a year. Annual revenue reportedly averaged only US$2 million during the same period.
Not everyone agrees with the project though. Members of the Alishan Community Development Association, the Alishan Tsou aborigines and environmental activists are concerned that the BOT project could have a negative impact on the environment and the community. Hungtu Chairman Chen Hong-yi said the company would do its best to develop tourism without sacrificing the interests of the local community.
Write to Jean Yueh at yueh@mail.gio.gov.tw