Let’s take a look at Ruifang Station, the starting point of Taiwan’s Pingxi Line.

It is said that Koreans who visit Taiwan often visit a place called ‘YesG’ the most.

YesG is said to have been named after three acronyms : Ye Liu + Shi Fen + Jiufen.

Yehliu is a geopark, Shifen is a floating lantern, and Jiufen is a place that has been the motif of the movie ‘Spirited Away’ and has its own charm.

To go to Jiufen, I took a section car and headed to the nearest station, Ruifang Station.

 

It’s already been 3 years since I went to Taiwan on a free trip with my wife. I want to try the full course of the Alishan Forest Train again, but Corona doesn’t allow it easily.

In particular, in the case of Taiwan, I think the sky gate will be opened at the latest. In the meantime, shouldn’t we try to soothe our regrets by bringing up memories like this?

 

A view of Ruifang Station in Taiwan

Ruifang Station is a fairly large train station, where regular trains stop and is also the starting point for the Pingxi Line. Originally, it rains a lot in Taiwan, but it rained quite a bit that day without fail.

We took a taxi to Jiufen. The taxi fare is NT$205, and it is posted on the main section at the taxi stand in front of Ruifang Station.

But here we are talking about Ruifang Station, not Jiufen.

 

Inside Ruifang Station, Taiwan

Inside Ruifang Station, Taiwan.

The gauge of the track is 1067mm narrow gauge.

 

Taiwan Ruifang Station Ticket Office

Ticket office at Ruifang Station, Taiwan.

The ticket window feels a bit outdated. It’s easy to see from the foreign language signs at the windows that the most popular tourists to Taiwan are Koreans and Japanese. It’s like Korean railways that have separate windows for the disabled and the elderly, but at the time they weren’t open.

There is a ticket vending machine next to the handicapped window. It is an automatic ticket vending machine with analog sensibility where you can purchase by pressing a button for landing and number of tickets.

 

Taiwan Ruifang Station ticket counter

A ticket counter at Ruifang Station in Taiwan.

There is no ticket inspection, but the counting and collecting areas are separate.

The uniforms of the station staff seem to be somewhat liberal.

 

Taiwan Ruifang Station waiting room

A waiting room at Ruifang Station in Taiwan.

 

Taiwan Ruifang Station Ticket Gate

The counting ball is heavy enough to defend it thoroughly.

 

Intersection of Ruifang Station in Taiwan

It is a section in Taiwan. This is the lowest class train in Taiwan, and stops at each station without assigned seats.

 

Intersection of Ruifang Station in Taiwan

It is also an interval.

 

Intersection of Ruifang Station in Taiwan

another segment

 

Station staff and section cars at Ruifang Station in Taiwan

A station attendant heading towards the section car entering Ruifang Station.

It is similar to Japan that station attendants carry red flags. Korea carries walkie-talkies.

 

taiwan

A transporter working on a motor car. old thoughts…

 

 

Jagangho Limited Express train entering Ruifang Station, Taiwan

Ja Kang-ho entering Ruifang Station.

With an operating speed of 130 km/h, this train corresponds to Korea’s Mugunghwa.

 

 

Railroad Souvenir Shop at Ruifang Station, Taiwan

Railway souvenir shop inside Ruifang Station.

Various railroad-related souvenirs are sold, including Edmonson-style tickets. The station manager character is eye-catching. Next time I go, I’ll have to bring it politely.

 

Track rail bond at Ruifang Station in Taiwan

Could it be an occupational disease? After waiting for the train for a while, I looked at what Taiwan’s tracks looked like and then pulled the rail bond with a camera.

Rail bond is installed at the boundary of the track circuit and refers to welding both rails with copper wire to reduce the electrical resistance of the rail.

Is it difficult? It would be easy to understand that it was installed to send signals through rails.

The signal part is not my specialty, so I have to reduce it to this extent.