Editor’s note: (Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Get news about destination openings, inspiration for future adventures, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and more travel developments.)
(CNN) Winding through the dense forests of Alishan, one of Taiwan’s highest mountain ranges, the 111-year-old Alishan Forest Railway has long been a popular attraction for train enthusiasts.
And now, train operators are updating their historic fleet by adding six sleek new carriages.
Collectively called Formosensis, the new carriages are the product of two years and nine months of planning and construction. Test drives began in March, with hopes of wrapping things up in June.
Both the decor and the interiors of the six new cars are lined with two types of cypress trees native to the island: Taiwan red cypress (or Chamaecyparis formosensis – which inspired the name) and Taiwan cypress (Chamaecyparis Taiwanensis).
“Taiwan red cypress and Taiwan cypress are fine and uniform wood materials,” Alishan Forest Railway officials said in a statement. “They are durable, resistant to erosion and insects. The essential oils it contains give off a unique aroma of phytoncides (the smell of the forest), which is both energizing and cleansing. Passengers could enjoy a refreshing bathing experience in the forest”.
Taiwan’s historic Alishan Forest Railway will soon welcome new, more comfortable train cars.
Formosensis will elevate the traveler experience in a number of ways. For one thing, the current Cypriot-themed train has no air conditioning or soft seats.
Each new car will be equipped with 18 leather seats, including two four-seater cabins and two two-seater cabins. They will also feature larger windows and warmer lights compared to the old models, all to improve the viewing experience.
But travelers will have to wait a little longer before they can board. The details of the routes and the launch date are yet to be confirmed, according to the railway office spokesperson.
Asia’s highest narrow gauge mountain railway
The current route of the Alishan Railway runs from Chiayi City Station to the Loco Shed Park, a garage-turned-park where visitors can see old locomotives and preserved trains that served the Forest Railway d Alishan.
Completed in 1912 under Japanese occupation, the railway was once used to transport Taiwan’s now-endangered cypress trees from Alishan. After logging was banned, it became the only passenger train going up the mountains.
It is believed to be the highest narrow-gauge mountain railway in Asia, rising from 30 meters to 2,216 meters above sea level, about 16 meters higher than the famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, which rises from 100 meters to 2,200 meters.
The new cars will be equipped with leather seats, larger windows and warmer lights.
The Formosensis carriages will be the latest addition to Alishan Forest Railway’s historic fleet, which includes restored steam locomotives.
Train enthusiasts can experience some of the original features of the 71.6 kilometer railway, such as the many spirals and horseshoe bends along the tracks. (You can see aerial photos of some of the tracks in the photo gallery above.)
The journey also offers a glimpse of Taiwan’s diverse natural beauty, as the train passes through a tropical forest, then a subtropical forest and finally a temperate forest during its ascent to Alishan Peak.
In addition to developing more modern trains for the route, Alishan Forest Railway has also restored some of its older trains as well as historic attractions along the line.
In 2021, the Alishan Forestry Railway and Cultural Heritage Bureau completed the restoration of the century-old Shay 21 steam locomotive. It is the first 28-ton Alishan steam train, imported from the United States in 1912 , and runs on its original coal engine.
Meanwhile, a Shay 31 locomotive makes occasional appearances during the flowering season, from March to May.
Check out this interactive content on CNN.com
Arrival in Alishan
The Alishan Forest Railway is not a continuous line: a section of track between Shizilu Station and Alishan Station was damaged by a typhoon.
Travelers can take the main line from Chiayi Station to Fenqihu Station (2 hours 20 minutes) and continue the journey by bus from Fenqihu Station to Alishan Station.
Only one train leaves Chiayi each day, at 9am on weekdays. Two more trains are added at weekends (at 8:30 and 9:30). (Find the schedule on this website).
From Alishan Station, there are several branch lines that take passengers to the attractions of Alishan Scenic Area.
