Time traveling on Taiwan's local trains

A history lesson on the island's west coast railway line

Opened in 1922 during Japan's colonial rule of Taiwan, Rinan Station is one of the few remaining wooden station houses along the coastal branch of the island's Western Trunk Line. (All photos by Thomas Bird)

THOMAS BIRD, Contributing writer

January 4, 2025 08:19 JST

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- It takes a little over two hours to rocket from Taipei to Kaohsiung by high-speed rail. But speed is not everything. Making the return journey on local and express trains covers diverse island terrain peppered with vintage station houses and historic sites, opening new dimensions to any visitor's take on contemporary Taiwan.