Chiayi county: Four tourists caught walking on the tracks of the Alishan Forest Railway face fines ranging from NT$10,000 (US$314) to NT$50,000 each for violating the Railway Act, the railway operator announced Tuesday. The individuals were apprehended during a joint patrol with police near Erwanping Station earlier this month, as stated by the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office under the Ministry of Agriculture's Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency.
According to Focus Taiwan, walking on the tracks has been a common but prohibited activity for visitors eager to explore the Alishan Forest Recreation Area. Many have been emboldened by the low frequency of trains on branch lines and the main line's previous closures due to typhoon damage. However, since the main line resumed service on July 6, 2024, authorities have intensified efforts to prevent such violations, with the office and the Chiayi County Police Department's Jhuci Precinct conducting 33 joint enforcement operations between December 2024 and May 2026. These efforts have penalized a total of 33 individuals for trespassing.
Despite increased enforcement and public awareness campaigns about railway safety, some tourists continue to disregard the rules. During a recent joint operation with the Jhuci Precinct's Alishan police station, authorities caught four individuals walking on the tracks from Erwanping Station toward Chiayi.
Article 70 of the Railway Act strictly prohibits pedestrians and vehicles from entering railway lines, with violators facing fines of NT$10,000 to NT$50,000 per person. The cases of the four tourists will be forwarded to the Railway Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to determine their penalties.
The office has issued a reminder for visitors to adhere to safety regulations in the Alishan area, urging them to stay off railway lines, bridges, and tunnels. It emphasized that such trespassing jeopardizes personal safety and train operations, while also exposing offenders to significant fines.