Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office

Taiwan's Alishan Forest Railway (AFR) marked a historic milestone in international cooperation today as Director General Lin Hwa-Ching of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA), Ministry of Agriculture, led a delegation to St. Moritz, Switzerland, to sign a Sister Railway Agreement with the Rhaetian Railway (Rhätische Bahn, RhB), a UNESCO World Heritage railway.

The ceremony was successfully held in the presence of Christian Jott Jenny, Mayor of St. Moritz; Renato Fasciati, CEO of Rhaetian Railway; Marijana Jakic, CEO of Engadin St. Moritz Tourism; Michel Pauchard, Head of Market Management at RhB; Patrick Miescher, Asia Pacific Marketing Manager; and representatives from the Taipei Cultural and Economic Delegation in Switzerland. This agreement marks the 11th sister railway partnership for the Alishan Forest Railway, expanding its international network across six countries, including Japan, India, Switzerland, the UK, Slovakia, and Australia. As two iconic mountain railways, they now embark on a partnership that bridges the natural landscapes of the Alps and Alishan.

From the Alps to Alishan: Engineering Wisdom in Harmony with Nature

The Rhaetian Railway spans a 385-kilometer network, with 30% of its lines operating at altitudes above 1,500 meters, serving over 15 million passengers annually. In 2008, its "Albula/Bernina Landscapes" were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, featuring remarkable engineering designs such as spiral tunnels, tiered embankments, and viaducts.

Similarly, the Alishan Forest Railway is designated as the first "National Important Cultural Landscape" in Taiwan. It spans 77.85 kilometers, climbs to an elevation of 2,421 meters, and serves 1.24 million passengers in 2025. It utilizes engineering designs like spiral climbs and zigzag switchbacks to overcome steep mountain terrain. 

Both railways showcase cross-border engineering wisdom in their tunnel, bridge, and horseshoe curve designs, and both were selected by Lonely Planet in 2025 for its " Epic Train Trips of the World " as top recommended routes for Europe and Asia.

Catalyst for Partnership: From Keynote Speech to Bilateral Exchange

The opportunity for this bilateral partnership originated in September 2025, when the Bureau of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture, Taiwan, hosted the "2025 International Forum on Taiwan Cultural Heritage." Patrick Miescher, RhB's Marketing Manager for Asia-Pacific, was invited to Taiwan and delivered a keynote speech titled "The Rhaetian Railway in Switzerland: Advancing the Landwasser World Project and Sustainable Development through World Heritage Values."

During his visit, Mr. Miescher engaged with the FANCA and AFR teams, focusing on the sustainable management of heritage railways. Following a comprehensive on-site inspection, he expressed high acclaim for the Alishan Forest Railway's remarkable engineering, rich biodiversity, and cultural heritage. Recognizing the high degree of commonality and shared values between the two networks, Mr. Miescher became a key advocate in facilitating this historic sister railway partnership.

Resilient Transformation of The Alishan Forest Railway Captivates Swiss Tourism Media

Prior to signing the agreement, FANCA Director-General Lin Hwa-Ching delivered a special presentation titled "Alishan Forest Railway: A Century of Transformation and Resilience." He detailed the railway's dramatic ascent from 30 meters to 2,451 meters above sea level, chronicling its history of overcoming topographical challenges and post-disaster restorations. The railway's successful transformation into a cultural train that balances heritage preservation with modern tourism deeply amazed the Swiss railway experts, local officials, and tourism media in attendance.

Director General Lin was also invited to attend the unveiling ceremony of RhB's newest locomotive. He specifically pointed out that RhB's balance between modern equipment and cultural heritage serves as an excellent reference. With the Alishan Forest Railway's brand-new sightseeing train, the "EVI" Train (森里號), set to begin operations later this year, both parties share a common language in elevating carriage aesthetics and passenger experiences. Moving forward, the two railways will deepen cooperation in "heritage governance" and "brand marketing," working together to enhance the global appeal of mountain railway tourism. Dr. Renato Fasciati, CEO of Rhaetian Railway, also expressed his expectations for close cooperation in areas such as cruise-style trains, joint marketing, and cross-border tourism products.

Through this close cooperation with the Rhaetian Railway, the Alishan Forest Railway will adopt a global perspective and showcase the enduring beauty of "living heritage" to the world. This partnership is expected not only to foster bilateral tourism but also to enable Taiwan's precious century-old Alishan Forest Railway to stand alongside heritage railways worldwide. Together, they will safeguard these historic railways, leveraging engineering wisdom and historical memory to fuel modern tourism.