臺鐵局平溪線與日本平成築豐鐵道締結姊妹鐵道

記者回添史/報導

臺鐵局平溪線於1921年全線完工，原為臺陽礦業株式會社出資新建的運煤專用鐵路，1929年臺灣總督府鐵道部收購整建後開始兼辦客運，是臺灣營運歷史最悠久的鐵路支線。平溪線除富有壺穴、瀑布等渾然天成的美景，加上採礦遺址、天燈節等人文資產，每年到訪平溪線人數突破六百萬，成為國外旅客來臺最愛且必訪景點之一。
日本平成築豐鐵道株式會社（以下簡稱平成築豐鐵道）為第三部門鐵道公司，位於九州福岡縣田川市。1989年為運輸煤礦而興建鐵路，後也因採礦沒落轉為地方客運路線，整體發展歷史與平溪線十分雷同。
平成築豐鐵道主要經營「伊田線」(直方站至田川伊田站，16.1公里)、「系田線」(金田站至田川後藤寺站，6.8公里)及「田川線」(行橋站至田川伊田站，26.3公里)三條路線，35個車站。
臺鐵局與日本平成築豐鐵道為促進雙方鐵道觀光交流及推動地區發展，謹訂於本(107)年5月19日(星期六)上午12時50分，於日本伊田車站辦理姊妹鐵道締結典禮，此為臺鐵局與日本鐵道繼江之島電鐵全線、由利高原鐵道鳥海山線後，第3個與平溪線締結的路線。締結儀式由臺鐵局瑞芳站陳站長義忠及平成築豐鐵道社長河合賢一共同簽署，臺鐵局杜副局長微及日本田川市長二場公人等人共同擔任見證。

TRA Pingxi Line and Japan Heisei Chikuho Railway Form Sistership

TRA’s Pingxi Branch Line construction was completed in 1927. The Taiyang Mining Corporation invested it so as to serve as a coal transport railroad . In 1929, the Railway Department of the Traffic Bureau of the General Governor of Taiwan acquired and took over this railway transforming into a passenger transport railway. The Pingxi Line is nowadays identified as the most historical railway branch line in Taiwan. Some renowned places along the line are pot holes, waterfalls, a mine craft heritage site, and a lantern festival. The average annual number of the tourists visiting the Pingxi Line reaches over 6 million, showing the Pingxi Line is a must-visit attraction for foreign visitors.

Japan Heisei Chikuho Railway, also known as Heichiku, is funded by the local government and a private company and located in Tagawa City, Fukuokaken, Kyushu, Japan. In 1989 it was built to support coal and mine transport. In line with the gradual decline of the mine industry, this railroad was forced to change into a local passenger transport railway. The overall historical development is very similar to the Pingxi Line.

Heichiku manages three lines and 35 stations. The main line, Itasen, runs from Nogata Station to Tagawa-Ita Station with a distance of 16.1km. The length of the Itodasen line is 6.8km from Kanada Station to Tagawagotoji Station. The operational distance for the Tagawasen line is 26.3km from Yukuhashi Station to Tagawa-Ita Station.

In order to mutually promote railway tourism and develop local industry, TRA and Japan Heisei Chikuho Railway established a sister line friendship relationship at the Ita Station on May 19, 2018. This is the Pingxi Line’s third sistership, followed by Japan’s Enoshima Electric Railway and YuriKogen Railway. This MoU was signed by the Station Master of TRA Ruifen Station and President Kawai Kennichi of Japan Heichiku, and was witnessed by Deputy Director General Tu Wei of TRA and Mayor Futaba Kimito of Tagawa City.