Does anyone know if the Alishan Forest Train is running?

We are planning on taking the train from Chiayi to Alishan on Tues 6th Jan but we heard that it was suspended in November due to a landslide.

Does anyone know if this is running again yet or do we need to get the bus both ways?

Does anyone know if the Alishan Forest Train is running?

The Alishan forest rail service linking Fenchihu and Alishan had resumed service from 25 December 2008 according to the announcement in Hangtu Alishan website http://www.ht-alishan.com.tw/news.asp

The rail service linking Chiayi and Fenchihu is still temporarily halted due to landslide.

Please check Hangtu Alishan website: https://ticket.ht-alishan.com.tw/welcome.php

for Alishan forest train schedule, online booking and announcement on when full service would be back to normal.

Map of Forest Railway Trail: eng.taiwan.net.tw/lan/Cht/map/ShowMap.asp鈥?/a>

Does anyone know if the Alishan Forest Train is running?

just came back from taiwan last night.

there is still train service from fenqihu to alisan, heard from the local that the service from chiayi to fenqihu might be postphone till next year due to budget wise of repairing the rail tracks.

you can proceed to fenqihu by bus or take a taxi at the chiayi train station. the taxi which bring us from chiayi to fenqihu cost only 600 for me and my wife. from fenqihu we took a 1hr train to alisan.

The Alishan train website appears to be showing through trains from Chiayi to Alishan when I check for a few days time. Anyone can confirm this?

According to Hangtu Alishan website: https://ticket.ht-alishan.com.tw/welcome.php the Alishan forest rail train from Chiayi to Alishan commences service from 16 January 2009. At the 23.4~23.5 km mark (near the Jhangnaoliao Station), passengers are asked to walk through a trail to take another train. The distance of trail is about 500 meters and walking time is about 15-20 minutes. The travel time from Chiayi to Alishan Station is about 4 hrs 30 mins. Fare: NT$399

Hangtu Alishan announcement on website: www.ht-alishan.com.tw/Notice_show.asp鈥?/a>

According to a caption underneath a photo in today%26#39;s China Post: The Chiayi to Alishan train route will resume on Jan. 16; HOWEVER, as the route isn%26#39;t completely repaired, passengers will need to alight the train, do some walking, and then get on again, to continue past the damaged section. (The information isn%26#39;t posted on the paper%26#39;s online version, so I can%26#39;t give you a link, sorry.)

Anyone has gone to Alishan lately and have updates?

I am thinking of making a return visit to Alishan later this month. I had been there some 3 years ago but that time I missed out on Fenchihu, it didn%26#39;t seem possible that time to planned both Fenchihu and Alishan together.

Anyway, after referring to the forest train schedule and HSR schedule can I do the following?

1. Take early morning HSR from Taipei to Chiayi.

2. Board complimentary bus from Chiaiyi HSR to Chiayi train station.

3. Take forest train 1000hrs from Chiayi to Fenchihu

4. Arrive Fenchihu 1250 hrs, have about 3 hours to explore Fenchihu.

5. Take 2nd forest train 1613 from Fenchihu to Alishan.

6. Overnight at Alishan and watch sunrise

7. Next day return via bus to Chiayi train station

The forest train website did not say whether there is always 2 trips from Chiayi to Alishan each day, although the last time I went, it seemed only on weekends and public holidays then there are 2 train services per day. Anyone knows the case now?

Thank you!

Hi dragonking,

I was actually planning to go to Alishan in my Apr trip to Taiwan and was actually rather lost to how I should get there.

Your transport method has certainly clear up the clouds in my head.

Just a few qns if you don%26#39;t mind.

1. You stop at Fenchiu for ??? Is it a small town for shopping or sightseeing?

2. I would like to stay in Alishan too but seems like there isn%26#39;t a lot of hotels and lots of minsu such as small swiss. Where would you recommend for accommodation?

3. All this train ticket (I know that I can book HSR ticket online?) have to be prebooked? Would there be a possiblity that train tickets from Chayi train station to Fengchiu will be sold out? How about the return ticket. Fengchiu-%26gt;Chayi train station -%26gt;Chayi HSR station?

4. As Sunmoonlake is part of my itinerary, is it really silly to move from Alishan to Taichong via HSR and then stay a night in Taizhong and the next morning take a bus ?? to Sunmoonlake? I intend to stay for a night in Sunmoonlake but don%26#39;t know if it is worth the stay.

Really sorry for so many qns and diversion. If anyone feel I should have my own thread, I will be happy to do that.

Dragonking, there is a pop up on the website that says the train runs the two trips daily till 15th Mar, it , however, also cautioned that as the train is a %26#39;special type%26#39; , schedules may change so it would be advisable to recheck even after booking the tix.

Thanks, maria. Got it now.

hi chokolo, pls look out for the 3 threads posted by wensi, it is very useful and updated on how to get to alishan.

as for why fencihu? well it is a small town midway up to alishan, good to stop for a few hours to look around.