Tainan Railway Underground Project Nears Completion with First Locomotive Test in Tunnel

Tainan's long-awaited railway underground project has reached a significant milestone, with Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) locomotives recently making their first journey into the newly constructed tunnels. This event, part of ongoing system testing, signals that the project is nearing its goal of opening by the end of the year.

The main tunnel structures and track laying are now complete. The new Tainan Station is in its final stages of interior decoration and system integration testing. Essential systems like fire safety, power, communication, signaling, and overhead catenary lines are also progressing.

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The new Tainan Station is undergoing final interior decoration and system integration testing.

Following self-inspections and joint checks, the project will be submitted to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications for final review. Minister Chen Shih-kai recently visited the site, urging the team to maintain quality and safety alongside the schedule.

As the railway prepares to move underground, it also marks the end of an era for Tainan's above-ground station, a landmark for 126 years. To commemorate this transition, the Railway Bureau is hosting a photo contest, inviting residents to submit images of the railway from before 2010, preserving memories of the city's rail history.

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The project aims for a year-end opening, with tunnel construction and track work completed.