Donggang line

The Donggang line (Chinese: 東港線; pinyin: Dōnggǎngxiàn) was a railway line of the Taiwan Railways Administration that ceased operations in July 2002.[2] The line was a branch line of the Pingtung Line, diverging at Zhen'an Station to the coastal town of Donggang. The route ran parallel to the current-day Provincial Highway 17.

Donggang line
A surviving headshunt on the Donggang Line
Overview
Native name東港線
OwnerTaiwan Railways Administration
TerminiZhen'an
Donggang
Stations3
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s)Taiwan Railways Administration
History
Opened19 July 1940 (1940-07-19)[1]
ClosedJuly 2002 (2002-07)[2]
Technical
Line length6.2 km (3.9 mi)[2]
Track gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
ElectrificationNone

History

During Japan's rule over Taiwan, the Pingtung Line gradually extended from Pingtung City southward to Fangliao. Donggang residents petitioned to the government for the tracks to enter the town, and Donggang Line entered service on 19 July 1940 as a branch line of the system.[1][3] At the time of opening, the line had only two stations, Shebian (社邊, now Zhen'an) and Donggang; a third station named Dapeng was added on 1 December 1942.[4] Aside from passenger services, the line also branched off into an air force complex located at the current Penbay International Circuit.[3]

The completion of Provincial Highway 17 and other roads caused a decline in ridership on the line, and passenger services ceased on 1 March 1991.[5] The line continued to carry military supplies into the air force base until July 2002.[2]

Development plans

Former President Ma Ying-jeou once proposed that the Donggang Line be reopened, but the plan was rejected by Donggang residents.[6]

In 2016, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications again proposed to reopen the Donggang Line as a light rail. Known as the "Donggang Tourism Line" (東港觀光鐵道), the route mostly followed the old railway line but terminated at Linbian instead of Zhen'an.[7][8] However, Donggang residents also opposed this plan, and the route was deemed not economically viable.[6]

A planned extension of the Kaohsiung MRT Red line will follow the route of the Donggang Line between Donggang and Dapeng Bay.[9][10]

Stations
Name Chinese Taiwanese Hakka Transfers and Notes Location
Zhen'an 鎮安 → Pingtung Line Linbian Pingtung County
Dapeng 大鵬   Donggang
Donggang 東港  

References
  1. 昭和15年7月臺灣總督府報 (in Japanese). Taiwan Historica: Government-General of Taiwan. 12 July 1940. pp. 36–37. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  2. 陳彥廷 (11 November 2016). "鐵路東港支線若「復駛」 舊站址恐與新行政中心強碰！" (in Chinese). Liberty Times. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. 温文佑. 消失的軍用鐵道─東港線 (PDF) (in Chinese). pp. 16–17. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  4. 昭和17年11月臺灣總督府報 (in Japanese). Taiwan Historica: Government-General of Taiwan. 27 November 1942. p. 103. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  5. 周永暉. 鑄票文創工場-臺灣鐵路車票故事之旅 (in Chinese). Taiwan Railway Administration. p. 88. ISBN 9789860497526.
  6. 陳彥廷 (15 March 2019). "燈會塞爆讓「東港支線」再現懷舊風潮 居民盼高捷南延" (in Chinese). Liberty Times. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  7. 侯承旭 (26 October 2016). "台鐵東港線是否復駛 將投入850萬評估" (in Chinese). Liberty Times. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  8. "東港觀光鐵道計畫規劃作業". Ministry of Transportation and Communications Railway Bureau (in Chinese). 21 April 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  9. 王淑芬; 郭芷瑄 (4 January 2021). "高雄捷運到屏東 確定高雄端採地下屏東端高架" (in Chinese). Central News Agency. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  10. 陳彥廷 (21 February 2020). "高捷小港東港線 林邊爭延火車站" (in Chinese). Liberty Times. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
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