Chiayi city: Australia's heritage Zig Zag Railway has officially entered into a sister railway alliance with Taiwan's Alishan Forest Railway, marking it as the 10th international partner for the latter. The agreement was celebrated with a ceremony at Alishan Forest Railway's Beimen Station in Chiayi City.
According to Focus Taiwan, the ceremony was attended by notable figures such as Chiayi Mayor Huang Min-hui, Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency Director-General Lin Hwa-ching, and Australia's Zig Zag Railway CEO Daniel Zolfel. The partnership was symbolized by the ceremonial driving of rail spikes into a section of track, signifying the formalization of this international collaboration.
Zolfel expressed his enthusiasm during the event, highlighting the shared heritage and passion for steam engines between the two railways. He described the partnership as one built on "people, passion and shared purpose," with plans for loco-technical exchanges and knowledge sharing to enhance the heritage and experience of both railways.
Lin, in his address, noted that the interaction between members of the two railways began in 2023, focusing on their mutual expertise in using switchbacks to navigate challenging terrains. He emphasized the importance of steam engine trains as a common link between the two operators, praising the Australian railway's proficiency in steam locomotive maintenance as a valuable asset for the Taiwanese company.
Zolfel also inspected Alishan's famous SL-21 steam locomotive, currently operating only on flat terrain, and offered the Australian team's help to improve its efficiency. This collaboration aims to enable the SL-21 to resume operations on the mountainous Alishan tracks next year.
