The EMU100-model locomotive, which was withdrawn from regular service two years ago, will make a return at Hualien train station on Thursday, the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) said yesterday.
The TRA said the special service would run as part of celebrations for the Republic of China centenary, for which the nation’s largest railway system will arrange 12 different locomotive models to complete a train tour around the nation by October.
Since October last year, the TRA has used four locomotive models, including the CK124, R20, DR2700 and R101.
The CK124 was used first and ran between Greater Taichung and Chiayi in October.
The other three locomotive models — the R20, DR2700 and R101 — were used to continue the train tour during the following three months, operating in sections between Chiayi and Pingtung, between Pingtung and Taitung and between Taitung and Hualien in January.
Passengers boarding the trains using those locomotives will essentially participate in a one-day event, where the train makes a few stops along the way and allows passengers to visit tourist attractions on their own.
After a hiatus last month, the TRA said it would resume the around-the-nation train tour this month using the EMU100 model.
The train will continue from Hualien to Suao (蘇澳) in Yilan County.
The TRA said that the EMU100 model was manufactured by the UK’s General Electric Co in 1978.
Equipped with the most advanced electronic control system at the time, the locomotive was used for the TRA’s first-generation Tzuchiang-class service.
Railway enthusiasts also called the locomotive “English Lady” because of its elegant and graceful appearance.
Meanwhile, the TRA said it would arrange for two foreign women the play the role of English ladies during the ceremony at Hualien station on Thursday. It would choose a TRA passenger and allow the person to be a train conductor for a day.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
Democratic Progressive Party caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu, front, grabs the pennant in a dragon boat race hosted by Qu Yuan Temple in the Shuanghsi River in Taipei’s Beitou District yesterday.