Suantou sugar railway extended to HSR Chiayi Station was officially launched today. TSC pointed out that this is the FIRST and ONLY sugar railway connecting to HSR; next year, it will be further extended to Southern Branch of National Palace Museum. Visitors are welcome to take HSR to Chiayi and then transfer to Suantou Sugar Factory Cultural Park by the sugar train. Passengers can enjoy sights and attractions along the way to feel the unique charm of conversion from the fastest to lowest.

The launch ceremony was held today at 11 a.m. at the new Sugar Train Station situated near Chiayi HSR Station. Local students involving in designing the station platform were also invited to take the train which was officially launched for the first time. Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Chern-chyi, Chiayi Magistrate Weng Chang-liang, National Palace Museum Director Wu Mi-cha, and TSC Chairman Chen Chao-yih jointly attended the event to see the sugar train departing from Chiayi HSR Station to Suantou Sugar Factory, building a connection between the fastest and slowest railways.

Chen explained that the extension of Suantou sugar railway to Chiayi HSR Station is one of the railway projects of the Forward- looking Infrastructure Development Program. The program was approved by Premier Su Tseng-chang in August last year and outsourced by Railway Bureau, MOTC. The newly-built railway line is 1.4 km with a total length of 3.4 km including the new Sugar Train Station, LOHAS Farm Station, and Suantou Sugar Factory Station. The extension project to Southern Branch of National Palace Museum is expected to complete in the middle of next year.

TSC pointed out that the new Station is near Chiayi HSR Station's Exit No. 3. The platform design embraces the elements of sugar factories, such as patterns of sugar crystals and sugarcane stalks on the gates, and the symbolic image of Suantou on the buffer stop and the station nameplate. The platform gates was designed by local students, incorporating images of locally grown agricultural produce including tomatoes, cantaloupes, and corns to strengthen ties to the local community.

"Sugar railways have over 100 years of history," TSC emphasized. They are also called "narrow gauge railways," with the track just a half of a standard railway track. Another saying is that the sugar trains run at half speed of other regular trains; therefore, slowness is a feature of sugar trains. There would be a tour guide to lead passengers to enjoy countryside scenery along the way and tell historical tales about sugar railways and culture, and their close connection to the local community.

"The sugar train runs service 24/7," TSC said. The train departs from Suantou Sugar Factory Station at 10:00 a.m. and 2 p.m. and from HSR Chiayi Station at 11:00 a.m. and 3 p.m. every day. Two additional train trips are added on the National Day; one from Suantou Sugar Factory Station at 4 p.m., and the other from HSR Chiayi Station at 5 p.m. Tickets are only available at the stations. Adult round-trip ticket (ages 13+) is NTD 350, and round-trip tickets for children (ages 6-12), seniors (ages 65+), and disabled are priced at NTD175. Kids aged under 6 can travel for free. There are more train services available between Suantou Sugar Factory Station and LOHAS Farm Station on holidays, a short distance train journey to experience sugar railways with a different ticket price.

To celebrate the launch of the cane rail extension, TSC offers 40% discount on the tickets from today through Sept. 30, 2023. A passenger can get a TSC popsicle (worth of NTD17) as showing the ticket stub, but the short distance ticket is not included in this promotion. Moreover, before the end of January 31, 2023, visitors can enjoy 20% off on the admission of Southern Branch of National Palace Museum by showing the ticket stub. TSC and the National Palace Museum invite everyone to visit Chiayi to experience a slow-paced and relaxing sugar train journey.



Chang Mu-jung
Public Relations, Department of Secretariat, TSC
Contact Number: 886-6-337-8819 / 886-920-636-951
Email: a63449@taisugar.com.tw