Taiwan, Japan strengthen railway cooperation

2016/05/09

Taiwan Railways Administration and Enoshima Electric Railway Co. Ltd. in Japan renewed May 1 for 11 months an agreement allowing passengers to enjoy reciprocal one-day tourist pass privileges, underscoring the strength of the growing rail tourism market in both countries.

The agreement, which has run annually since May 2013, covers state-run TRA’s 12.9-kilometer Pingxi Line in New Taipei City and privately owned EER’s 10-kilometer line in Kanagwa prefecture. The former passes through the historic mountainous districts of Ruifang and Pingxi, while the latter connects Kamakura and Fujisawa cities in an area renowned for its beaches, mountains, shrines and restaurants.

Both railways are popular with sightseers and close to the respective capitals of Taipei and Tokyo—a fact reflected by the addition of coupons and guides to nearby attractions in the 2016 edition of the pass. From May 2013 to February 2015, 7, 708 tickets were redeemed by Taiwan and Japan tourists.

The tie-up is part of ongoing TRA efforts to boost links with Japanese railway lines, stations and trains through a series of tourism promotion and marketing initiatives.

In February, TRA and Shikoku Railway Co.—one of seven companies comprising the Japan Railways Group—signed a friendship agreement at Matsuyama Station. The facility has maintained a sister relationship with TRA’s Songshan Station in Taipei since October 2013 on the basis that the Han characters used to name the two stations are the same. A similar twinning agreement between TRA’s Hsinchu Station and Tokyo Station operated by JR Group’s East Japan Railway Co. was concluded in February 2015.

TRA Director-General Joe Chou said most of the operator’s international cooperation agreements are with Japanese companies, a trend he attributes to history given Taiwan’s around 400-kilometer main track on the western plains was built during Japanese colonial rule (1895-1945).

“Railway cultures form significant tourist draws, and awareness of these attractions are enhanced through overseas exchange programs,” Chou said, adding that TRA efforts reflect a revival of interest in the country’s railway systems dating back to the final years of the Qing dynasty (1684-1895).

Taiwan recorded more than 1.62 million visits from Japan last year, representing the second largest source of overseas travelers. Many of these came to experience the nation’s historic railway assets and related tourist attractions.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=244459&ctNode=2194&mp=9)