North-Link Line
Passenger/freight rail
Native name北迴線
Stations13
Open1 February 1980
OwnerTaiwan Railway
OperatorTaiwan Railway
Tracks2
Linelength79.2 km (49.2 mi)
Electrification25 kV/60 Hz Catenary
Speed150 km/h (93 mph)

The North-Link Line () is the central section of the Eastern Line of Taiwan Railway. The length of its mainline is 79.2 km (49.2 mi), and there is a 7.4 km (4.6 mi) long branch between Beipu and Hualien Port.[1]

History

The high mountains and cliffs in eastern Taiwan, between Yilan and Hualien, are a major barrier to the transportation between northern Taiwan and eastern Taiwan. The highway was narrow and dangerous. Ferry service between Keelung and Hualien was an overnight trip. Thus in 1973 the construction of the North-Link Line started. The line branched from Yilan line at Nan Sheng Hu in Su'ao, traveling through mountains and valleys with 91 tunnels and 16 bridges, and ended at a newly constructed Hualien Station. The line was completed in 1979 and was almost immediately overloaded with passenger and freight services. Although Taiwan Railways Administration continuously upgraded signals, tracks, and rolling stock of the line, the great demand could not be fulfilled. The line was then electrified in 2003 and expanded to two tracks (double track) in January 2005.

Stations

NameChineseTaiwaneseHakkaTransfers and NotesLocation
Su'aoxin蘇澳新So͘-ò SinSû-o SînYilan lineSu'aoYilan
County
Yongle永樂Éng-lo̍kYún-lo̍k
Dong'ao東澳Tang-òTûng-oNan'ao
Nan'ao南澳Lâm-òNàm-oSu'ao
Wuta武塔Bú-thahVú-thapNan'ao
Hanben漢本Hàn-púnHon-pún
Heping和平Hô-pêngFò-phìnXiulinHualien
County
Heren和仁Hô-jînFò-yìn
Chongde崇德Chông-tekChhùng-tet
Xincheng (Taroko)新城(太魯閣)Sin-siâⁿ (Thài-ló͘-koh)Sîn-sàng (Thai-lû-kok)Xincheng
Jingmei景美Kéng-bíKín-mîXiulin
Beipu北埔Pak-po͘Pet-phûXincheng
Hualien花蓮Hoa-liânFâ-liènHualien–Taitung lineHualien

See also

References

  1. ^ "Taiwan Railways Administration". Archived from the original on 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2007-12-31.