Taiwan's loneliest train stations share neighboring townships' names

Taiwan's railway system boasts two stations that are perhaps more famous for their quirky administrative addresses than their passenger numbers. Neishi Station, located in Pingtung County, has once again been named the least patronized station in Taiwan, with an average of just one passenger daily. Fangshan Station, its neighbor, follows closely behind, serving an average of only eight passengers per day.

However, the real story behind these "lonely stations" on the South-Hague Line is a delightful geographical mix-up. While Neishi Station is named after the nearby Neishi Village, its official address is in Fangshan Township. Conversely, Fangshan Station, closer to Fangshan Village, is actually situated in Shizi Township.

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Neishi Station is in Fangshan, Fangshan Station is in Neishi!

This peculiar situation arose during the construction of the South-Hague Line. The stations were named based on their proximity to nearby villages, not their exact administrative locations. Given the narrow, elongated terrain where Shizi Township borders the coastal Fangshan Township, and the stations' close proximity, this naming convention led to the stations effectively occupying each other's names.

While some stations across Taiwan are named after non-resident locations, this is believed to be a unique case of two adjacent stations swapping names. The unique addresses have unexpectedly turned these remote stations into tourist attractions, with visitors flocking to see the peculiar phenomenon and enjoy the scenic views. Neishi Station, perched on higher ground, offers a sweeping view of the Taiwan Strait, while Fangshan Station, the southernmost railway station in Taiwan, provides a panoramic ocean vista from its mountainside location.

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During the construction of the South-Hague Line, these two stations were named according to the 'nearest village,' not the administrative address.