Alishan Forest Railway × Oigawa Railway Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Sister Railway Partnership Special Painting Train to Begin Service on January 23

202601/16
The Alishan Forest Railway (AFR)and Japan's Oigawa Railway in Shizuoka will soon mark the 40th anniversary of the sister railway partnership, first established in 1986. Both railways are famous for mountainous landscapes, century-old history, and commitment to preserving railway culture and tourism heritage. Two railways have maintained a close bond through personnel visits and professional collaboration, fostering a lasting bilateral railway friendship. To celebrate this milestone, AFR has specially applied a commemorative livery inspired by the “Oigawa Railway- Ikawa Line” to a four-carriage Alishan Express trainset. Beginning on January 23, 2026, the themed train will operate on the Alishan Main Line, transforming this strong friendship into power running through the mountain and the forest.

Forty Years Together:
“Alishan Express × Ikawa Line” — Friendship as a Rideable Landscape

The sister railway agreement ceremony was held on January 24, 1986, at Beimen Station in Chiayi City. The following morning, the formal signing took place at the Forestry Bureau in Taipei (now the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency), signed by then Director General Hsu Chi-Yu and Oigawa Railway President Taizo Goto. This partnership marked the AFR's first international sister railway relationship.

Over the past 40 years, the two railways have continuously deepened cooperation across a wide range of fields, including rolling stock maintenance, operational management, railway safety, tourism services, and the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage. This enduring friendship symbolizes the deep mutual appreciation of Taiwan and Japan's railway culture, while bearing witness to a shared belief in protecting railways through professionalism and passion.

To commemorate the 40th anniversary, the Alishan Express cars have been repainted with the distinctive patterns of the “Oigawa Railway- Ikawa Line.” Operating between Chiayi and Alishan from January 23, 2026 onwards, passengers can experience the atmosphere of Oigawa's mountain railways from Japan, while traveling through the misty forests of Alishan. From the same date, limited-edition postcards and commemorative stamps are available at the ticket counters of Alishan Station and Fenqihu Station for visitors to collect and stamp as souvenirs.

Nostalgic Warmth of the Showa Era:
Oigawa Railway's Transformation from Industrial Transport to Cultural Tourism

Located in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, the Oigawa Railway is known for its nostalgic Showa vibe, featuring steam locomotives pulling passenger cars. Wooden seats, vintage ceiling fans, and onboard sales recreate the atmosphere of historic Japanese railway travel. Centered on reviving the experience of Showa-era travel, the railway presents diverse themed journeys such as dining trains, alcohol trains, and night trains, evoking a Showa retro scenery rich in warmth and shared memories.

For many years, the Oigawa Railway has hosted the officially licensed “DAY OUT WITH THOMAS™” events, which families can take the popular Thomas the Tank Engine. Depending on the schedule, visitors can also tour areas around the maintenance workshop and watch locomotive operations, making it one of Japan's most iconic family-oriented railway experiences.

Deeper in the mountains, the Ikawa Line was originally built to transport materials for dam construction and timber from surrounding forests. It features Japan's only ABT rack railway system. With a rack rail laid between the two running rails, the locomotive's gear mechanism ensures stable traction on steep gradients, enabling the train to safely conquer slopes of up to 9%—a remarkable example of mountain railway engineering.

One of the line's most popular landmarks is OkuOikojo Station, situated on a peninsula along Sessu Lake, formed by the Nagashima Dam. Framed by the OkuOi Rainbow Bridge spanning the lake on both sides, the station is widely regarded as a symbol of OkuOis breathtaking scenery.

Both the Oigawa Railway and the AFR originated as industrial transport lines and have evolved into living heritage railways that balance nostalgia with innovation, tourism with conservation, and education with operation. Surrounded by forests, they preserve history while connecting people and places through rail.

Looking Ahead:
Creating the Next 40 Years through Culture, Technology, and Tourism

Director Wang Jau-Pao of the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office noted that this event marks the first time the Alishan Forest Railway has applied another railway's patterns to its rolling stock. Beyond commemorating four decades of Taiwan–Japan railway friendship, the project represents a tangible expression of exchange—something that can be seen and experienced firsthand. Travelers from Taiwan and abroad are warmly invited to witness this cross-border connection brought to life on the rails. Looking to the future, the Alishan Forest Railway will continue its partnership with the Oigawa Railway under a dual focus on technology and culture, promoting personnel exchange, sharing expertise in maintenance and operations, collaborating on cultural heritage preservation, and jointly advancing railway tourism and regional branding. Through these efforts, the echoes of the mountain railways will cross the seas, forging new connections between people, places, and cultures for generations to come.