Breezy Blue (South-Link Line)

Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) × Lion Travel Co. Ltd.
Taiwan
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The Journey

Navigate from Fangliao Station (Pingtung County, TRA South-Link Line start) to Taitung Station (Taitung City, eastern terminus of the TRA South-Link Line) across a span of 98km.

Scenery Highlights
  • Duoliang 'Window of the Pacific' — one of the world's most photographed rail sections with the track curves parallel to the Pacific Ocean
  • Pingtung pineapples — agricultural valleys between Fangliao and Fangshan planted with premium winter pineapples
  • 16 heritage tunnels through the southern Central Mountain Range foothill
  • 24 river bridges — many listed as Taiwanese Cultural Heritage structures
  • Puyuma Indigenous Cultural Tour upgrade at Dawu — rice-terrace villages and traditional dance performances
  • Jinlun Hot Spring resort district (10 km from station) — accessible by short bus ride
  • Taimali — coastal heritage area with traditional Amis and Puyuma fishing villages
  • Zhiben — the second-largest hot-spring district in Taitung after the Beinan River valley
  • Sea-of-clouds at dawn over the Beinan River valley (winter mornings)
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    3.2 hours

  • Distance

    98 km

  • Est. Price

    NT$799 reserved seat; NT$1,598 exclusive 2-person cabin; NT$1,200 Puyuma cultural tour upgrade

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals: Afternoon-tea snack box + bottled water on board (Lion Travel partnership)

Ensuite: No

Meals: Afternoon-tea snack box + bottled water; small welcome pack of cultural souvenirs (Puyuma tribe textile)

Ensuite: No

Meals: Traditional tribal lunch included; afternoon snack on train

Ensuite: No

Engine / Locomotive

TRA diesel-electric locomotive (typically R-series diesel-electric; 2,800 hp / 2,088 kW)

Locomotive Weight

62 tonnes (R-series)

Track Gauge

1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge (Taiwan Railways Administration standard)

Braking Technology

Air brakes throughout

Route Engineering Challenges

  • 16 tunnels through the southern Central Mountain Range foothill

  • 24 river bridges across the Beinan River and Dawu River basins

  • Single-track operation with passing sidings at selected stations (Fangliao, Dawu, Taitung)

  • Typhoon season June–September risk of bridge inspections and short-notice cancellations

  • Climate-control limitations of 1950s SP-class carriages — open windows in summer and bunk-level radiators in winter

  • Preservation of the original 1950s SP-class rolling stock — periodic wooden-floor restoration required

  • Coordination with the parallel TRA shuttle services to maintain on-time heritage workings

Route distance

98 km (Fangliao–Taitung)

Maximum speed

110 km/h on grade

Year opened

1921 (initial section); 1926 (full line); 2021 (Breezy Blue heritage service launch by TRA × Lion Travel)

Electrification

Non-electrified (diesel haul)

Operator

Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) × Lion Travel Co. Ltd.

Carriage type

Restored 1950s SP-class powder-blue heritage carriages (original livery, vintage wooden floors, open windows with sliding panels)

Number of carriages

9 SP-class carriages in regular service, plus 2 reserved for emergency substitution

Number of tunnels

16 heritage tunnels

Number of bridges

24 river bridges (several listed as Taiwanese Cultural Heritage structures)

2026 summer timetable

15 June to 30 September 2026: eastbound 5899 (Fangliao 10:25 → Taitung 13:46); westbound 5898 (Taitung 14:10 → Fangliao 17:33)

2026 fares

NT$799 standard reserved; NT$1,598 exclusive 2-person cabin; NT$1,200 Puyuma cultural tour upgrade

Booking window

14 days in advance via Lion Travel (https://www.liontravel.com/) or TRA booking

Major highlights

Duoliang 'Window of the Pacific' — one of the world's most photographed rail sections

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    3.2 hours

  • Distance

    98 km

  • Est. Price

    NT$799 reserved seat; NT$1,598 exclusive 2-person cabin; NT$1,200 Puyuma cultural tour upgrade

Official Booking Provider