Travel time by train between Taipei and the southeastern city of Taitung has been shorted to as little as 3.5 hours, making it easier for tourists to visit the scenic but remote part of Taiwan.
On Saturday President Ma Ying-jeou attended a ceremony celebrating the electrification of a section of railway that took five years to complete. The project also included straightening some of the curves and the building of a new tunnel.
Also on Saturday, the new Puyuma Express service was inaugurated. Depending on the number of stops, the new Puyuma Express can complete the journey in 3.5 hours or 4 hours and 5 minutes. That compared with the 4.5 hours needed for the fastest train service available between Taipei and Taitung until now.
The saving in travel time is welcomed by many residents of Taitung, who have complained about lacking easy access to the population center in northwestern Taiwan.
President Ma said the project was just a beginning. He also said the government will invest another NT$110 billion (about US$3.7 billion) in improving infrastructure in eastern Taiwan.