MOTC PLANS TO BUILD BRANCH RAILWAY TO HENGCHUEN|恆春觀光鐵路拍板 新左營-恆春141分鐘

Popular tourist destinations in Southern Taiwan, such as Hengchuen and Kenting, may be just a train ride away in the future. The MOTC is planning to build a new railway branch from the Neishi Station in Pingtung to Hengchuen. A total of 7 new stations will be added, and the project is expected to be completed by 2025. Premier Lin Chuan attended a briefing at the Neishi Station on Dec 2 and confirmed the plan, which will also integrate local community tourism along the line. However, Pingtung County Magistrate said he hopes to complete the project by 2021. Currently, only four trains a day stop at the Neishi Station in Pingtung. Premier Lin Chuan attended a briefing by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and confirmed that a branch railway will be added from the Neishi Station to Hengchuen. ==LIN CHUAN, Premier== We hope the new railway branch can help resolve the current traffic issues. Most importantly, it will help develop the local tourism industry. The new branch will add seven new stations, including Hengchuen. The total budget is NT$19.9 billion. The MOTC explained that this railway branch will be designed as a tourist railway that integrates local tourism. There will also be special tourist trains. With a total length of 37.7 km, the 2-phase environmental evaluation will not be completed until 2025. Pingtung Magistrate Pan Men-an said that is too long. ==PAN MEN-AN, Pingtung County Magistrate== I think it would too long to wait until 2025. I understand the environmental evaluation process takes time, but we can try to take less time in the planning and design process. The Hengchuen Peninsula will finally have its own railway. However, the trip from Kaohsiung to Hengchuen will take 141 minutes. To reduce the travel time, local residents hope the high-speed rail can be extended to Pingtung. However, the MOTC has yet to make a decision. ==PAN MEN-AN, Pingtung County Magistrate== The MOTC has not given the Premier a definitive answer. We still don't know what their plans are. Pan said that they are considering the design of a union station of TRA and High-Speed Rail or an extension of the railway line from Kaohsiung. They hope to get their proposed plan approved by the Executive Yuan by the end of the year. TRANSLATED BY：CHRISTINA LIU 到恆春、墾丁，未來也能搭火車。交通部規劃，將從屏東枋山的內獅車站，延伸一條觀光鐵路到恆春，總共新設7個站，預計114年完成，行政院長林全中午到內獅車站聽取簡報，宣告全案定案，且會結合沿線車站，推動社區觀光，不過屏東縣長潘孟安認為114年太久，希望能提早到110年。 目前一天只剩4班火車停靠的屏東枋山內獅車站，未來可望變得更熱鬧，行政院長林全中午到現場聽取交通部報告，確定要從這個車站，延伸鐵路支線到恆春。 ==行政院長 林全== 我們希望能把它拉出來 變成一個支線 這個支線目的其實 第一個是解決目前交通的問題 再更重要是什麼 要把觀光產業能夠發展起來 支線將新增包括恆春等七個站，總興建經費199億元。交通部強調，支線定調為觀光鐵路，將沿線各站將結合社區觀光，也會有專屬的觀光列車。因為全長37.7公里，必須經過二階環評，預估要到114年才能完成，但屏東縣長潘孟安當場表達，太久了。 ==屏東縣長 潘孟安== 我個人認為太久了 到114年才完工 我知道環評有一定程序 但細部規劃 設計 其實是可以縮短期程 恆春半島終於要有鐵路，不過如果從高雄新左營出發，到恆春要141分鐘，要再縮短屏東對外交通時間，地方還希望高鐵能延伸到屏東，但交通部還在評估。 ==屏東縣長 潘孟安== 交通部沒有給(院長) 一個明確的定調 或者是交通部目前幾個案 到底採什麼案 潘孟安表示，目前高鐵延伸有與台鐵共構、或者從高雄延伸等評估方案，希望能在年底前，向行政院爭取定案。 記者 王介村 陳顯坤 屏東報導