Locale | Taiwan |
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Dates of operation | 1887–present |
Track gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
Length | 1,117.9 km (694.6 mi) |
Headquarters | Zhongzheng, Taipei |
Website | http://www.railway.gov.tw/en/ |
Taiwan Railways Administration | |||||||||||||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 臺灣鐵路管理局 台灣鐵路管理局 |
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Simplified Chinese | 台湾铁路管理局 | ||||||||||||||||||
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TRA | |||||||||||||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 臺鐵 台鐵 |
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Transcriptions | |
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Standard Mandarin | |
Hanyu Pinyin | Táiwān Tiělù Guǎnlǐjú |
Wade–Giles | T'ai2-wan1 T'ieh3-lu4 Kuan3-li3-chü2 |
Tongyong Pinyin | Táiwan Tiělù Guǎnlǐjyú |
Hakka | |
Romanization | Thòi-vàn Thiet-lu Kón-lî-khiu̍k |
Southern Min | |
Hokkien POJ | Tâi-oân Thih-lō· Koán-lí-kio̍k |
Transcriptions | |
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Standard Mandarin | |
Hanyu Pinyin | Táitiě |
Wade–Giles | T'ai2-t'ieh3 |
Tongyong Pinyin | Táitiě |
Hakka | |
Romanization | Thòi-thiet |
Southern Min | |
Hokkien POJ | Tâi-thih |
The Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA; Chinese: 臺灣鐵路管理局; pinyin: Táiwān Tiělù Guǎnlǐjú) is an agency of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of Taiwan responsible for managing, maintaining, and running passenger and freight services on 1097 km of conventional railroad lines in Taiwan (gauge: 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)). Since Taiwan is heavily urbanized with a high population density, railways have played an important part in domestic transportation since the late 19th century. Most of the main lines are fully electrified and service is generally efficient and reliable. In 2011, the system carried 205.8 million passengers, or 563,915 passengers per day.
The agency's headquarters are in Zhongzheng District, Taipei. The agency is headed by Yung-Hui Chou, Director-General of Taiwan Railway Administration.
Railway services between Keelung and Hsinchu began in 1891 under China’s Qing Dynasty. Completely rebuilt and substantially expanded under the Taiwan Governor-General Railways () operated by Formosa’s Japanese colonial government (1895-1945), the network’s Japanese influence and heritage persists. Similarities between the TRA and the Japan Railways (JR) companies can be noted in signal aspects, signage, track layout, fare controls, station architecture, and operating procedures. As Japan’s southern base during WWII, Taiwan’s railways suffered significant damage by Allied air raids. The Taiwan Railways Administration was established on March 5, 1948 to reconstruct and operate railway infrastructure, with Lang Chung-hsiung () as its first Director-General.