| North-Link Line | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Native name | 北迴線 |
| Owner | Taiwan Railway |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 13 |
| Service | |
| Type | Passenger/freight rail |
| Operator(s) | Taiwan Railway |
| History | |
| Opened | 1 February 1980 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 79.2 km (49.2 mi) |
| Number of tracks | 2 |
| Track gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
| Electrification | 25 kV/60 HzCatenary |
| Operating speed | 150 km/h (93 mph) |
TheNorth-Link Line (Chinese:北迴線;pinyin:Běihuí Xiàn) is the central section of the Eastern Line ofTaiwan Railway. The length of its mainline is 79.2 km (49.2 mi), and there is a 7.4 km (4.6 mi) long branch betweenBeipu andHualien Port.[1]
The high mountains and cliffs in eastern Taiwan, between Yilan and Hualien, is a major barrier to the transportation between northern Taiwan and eastern Taiwan. The highway was narrow and dangerous. Ferry service between Keelung and Hualien was an overnight trip. Thus in 1973 the construction of North-link line started. The line branched fromYilan line atNan Sheng Hu inSu'ao, traveling through mountains and valleys with 91 tunnels and 16 bridges, and ended at a newly constructed Hualien Station. The line was completed in 1979 and was almost immediately overloaded in passenger and freight services. DespiteTaiwan Railways Administration continued upgrading signals, tracks, and rolling stock of the line, the great demand could not be fulfilled. The line was then electrified in 2003 and expanded to two tracks (double track) in January 2005.
| Name | Chinese | Taiwanese | Hakka | Transfers and Notes | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Su'aoxin | 蘇澳新 | So͘-ò Sin | Sû-o Sîn | → Yilan line | Su'ao | Yilan County |
| Yongle | 永樂 | Éng-lo̍k | Yún-lo̍k | |||
| Dong'ao | 東澳 | Tang-ò | Tûng-o | Nan'ao | ||
| Nan'ao | 南澳 | Lâm-ò | Nàm-o | Su'ao | ||
| Wuta | 武塔 | Bú-thah | Vú-thap | Nan'ao | ||
| Hanben | 漢本 | Hàn-pún | Hon-pún | |||
| Heping | 和平 | Hô-pêng | Fò-phìn | Xiulin | Hualien County | |
| Heren | 和仁 | Hô-jîn | Fò-yìn | |||
| Chongde | 崇德 | Chông-tek | Chhùng-tet | |||
| Xincheng (Taroko) | 新城（太魯閣） | Sin-siâⁿ (Thài-ló͘-koh) | Sîn-sàng (Thai-lû-kok) | Xincheng | ||
| Jingmei | 景美 | Kéng-bí | Kín-mî | Xiulin | ||
| Beipu | 北埔 | Pak-po͘ | Pet-phû | Xincheng | ||
| Hualien | 花蓮 | Hoa-liân | Fâ-lièn | →Hualien–Taitung line | Hualien | |
| Main lines |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Branch lines | ||
| Others | ||
| Defunct | ||
| Planned & U/C | ||
| Abandoned/Unbuilt | ||