Taiwan News
Date: 2016-04-03
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) announced on Sunday that the fares of the Alishan Forest Railway will go up for the first time in 20 years from May 1, with the biggest increase being up to 100 percent.

The TRA said that the fare hike was intended to reflect the increased cost of operating the Alishan Forest Railway, but the increase can scarcely make up the balance.

The major fare increases include a 60 percent increase from NT$240 to NT$384 for a trip from Chiayi Station to Fenchihu Station on the main line, as well as a 50 percent hike from NT$100 to NT$150 for a trip between Alishan Station and Chusan Station, and a 100 percent from NT$50 to NT$100 for both trips from Alishan Station and Shenmu (Sacred Tree) Station and from Alishan Station to Zhaoping Station on the branch lines.

The Alishan Forest Railway, situated in the remote high-mountain region, uses more human and material resources to operate than ordinary railways, the TRA said.     [FULL  STORY]