Pingtung line

The Pingtung Line (Chinese: 屏東線; pinyin: Píngdōng Xiàn; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Pîn-tong Soàⁿ) is part of the West Coast line of Taiwan Railway.

Pingtung Line
Overview
Native name	屏東線
Status	In operation
Owner	Taiwan Railway Corporation
Termini	Kaohsiung Fangliao
Stations	21
Service
Type	Heavy rail
Operator(s)	Taiwan Railway Corporation
Ridership	5.2 million in the first half of 2019.[1]
History
Opened	15 December 1941
Technical
Line length	61.3 km (38.1 mi)
Number of tracks	2 (Kaohsiung to Chaozhou), 1 (Chaozhou to Fangliao)
Track gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Electrification	25 kV/60 Hz Catenary
Operating speed	150 km/h (93 mph)
Route map Legend km Station ( Western Trunk line) (  ) 0.0 Kaohsiung 1.4 Minzu 2.4 Sci-tech Museum 4.2 Zhengyi 5.8 Fengshan 9.5 Houzhuang 13.8 Jiuqutang 18.8 Liukuaicuo 21.0 Pingtung 23.6 Guilai 25.9 Linluo 28.3 Xishi 32.0 Zhutian 36.1 Chaozhou Double-track terminalized Single-track 40.9 Kanding Single-track 43.3 Nanzhou Double-track 46.9 Zhen'an Double-track 50.1 Linbian Single-track 54.1 Jiadong Single-track 57.2 Donghai Single-track 61.3 Fangliao Single-track ( South-link line)

It is 61.3 km (38.1 mi) long, of which 36.1 km (22.4 mi) is double track.^[2]

The section between Nanzhou and Linbian railway stations will be upgraded from a single-track railway to a double-track railway in December 2019 while the section between Chaozhou and Nanzhou, and the section between Linbian and Fangliao is expected to remain in single-track.^[3]

Taiwanese government stated in 2007 that it reserved the possibility to upgrade the entire section to dual-track railway when the number of travelers through Pingtung Line reaches a certain level ^[4]

History

The line was completed in 1941. The section between Kaohsiung and Pingtung was electrified on July 10, 1996.^[5] The section between Pingtung and Chaozhou was electrified on August 23, 2015, when the elevated tracks between the two stations opened.^[6]

Chaozhou–Fangliao upgrades

Immediately following the completion of the elevated tracks between Pingtung and Chaozhou, the TRA began planning for the electrification of the last section of the line between Chaozhou and Fangliao. The plan was approved by the Ministry of the Interior on June 3, 2013, and construction began on November 16, 2014.^[7]

Aside from electrifying the tracks, the following upgrades were carried out simultaneously:^[7]

• Extending and raising platforms at all stations to cater to low-floor trains
• Adding a second track between Nanzhou and Linbian
• Adding a second platform at Zhen'an and Jiadong

The infrastructure was completed in October 2019, and beginning on November 8, test runs using electric trains were carried out on the line. The electrified tracks officially entered service on December 23, 2019.^[7][8]

Stations

Name	Chinese	Taiwanese	Hakka	Transfers and Notes	Location
Kaohsiung	高雄	Ko-hiông	Kô-hiùng	→ West Coast line Kaohsiung	Sanmin	Kaohsiung
Minzu	民族	Bîn-cho̍k	Mìn-chhu̍k
Science and Technology Museum	科工館	Kho-kang-koán	Khô-kûng-kón
Zhengyi	正義	Chèng-gī	Chang-ngi
Fengshan	鳳山	Hōng-soaⁿ	Fung-sân	Fongshan	Fengshan
Houzhuang	後庄	Āu-chng	Heu-chông		Daliao
Jiuqutang	九曲堂	Kiú-khiok-tông	Kiú-khiuk-thòng		Dashu
Liukuaicuo	六塊厝	La̍k-tè-chhù	Liuk-khoài-chhṳ̀		Pingtung	Pingtung County
Pingtung	屏東	Pîn-tong	Phìn-tûng
Guilai	歸來	Kui-lâi	Kûi-lòi
Linluo	麟洛	Lîn-lo̍k	Lìm-lo̍k		Linluo
Xishi	西勢	Sai-sì	Sî-sṳ		Zhutian
Zhutian	竹田	Tek-chhân	Chuk-thièn
Chaozhou	潮州	Tiô-chiu	Chheù-chû		Chaozhou
Kanding	崁頂	Khàm-téng	Kham-táng		Kanding
Nanzhou	南州	Lâm-chiu	Nàm-chû		Nanzhou
Zhen'an	鎮安	Tìn-an	Chṳ́n-ôn		Linbian
Linbian	林邊	Nâ-piⁿ	Lìm-piên
Jiadong	佳冬	Ka-tang	Kâ-tûng		Jiadong
Donghai	東海	Tang-hái	Tûng-hói		Fangliao
Fangliao	枋寮	Pang-liâu	Piông-liàu	→ South-link line

See also

• West Coast line (Taiwan)