Is the Alishan Forest Railway rough?
Taiwan's Alishan Forest Railway reopened in full on 6 July 2024 after 15 years of typhoon-forced closures, and it brought back one of the most geometrically extreme climbs in rail: gradients to 6.26 percent, the Dulishan section where the line spirals the mountain repeatedly and finishes in a figure eight, and Z-switchbacks above Fenqihu where the train reverses direction up the slope.
Chiayi to Alishan, Taiwan · about 3.5 hours Chiayi to Alishan · Spirals, switchbacks, 6.26 percent
Status, September 2026
Service status, September 2026: the full 71.4 km line has been running since 6 July 2024, with typhoon-season suspensions still possible in the July to September window.
Key facts
- The full 71.4 km line resumed service on 6 July 2024, after closures dating to 2009 caused by typhoon damage.
- The main line has gradients up to 6.26 percent, a spiral section at Dulishan finishing in a figure eight, and switchbacks where the train reverses direction.
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Why the Alishan Forest Railway moves you the way it does
The line climbs from near sea level at Chiayi into high mountain forest, and its Japanese-era builders used every trick: spirals that keep the train turning the same way for minutes, a figure eight that reverses the turn, and switchback reverses that flip your direction of travel entirely. That sequence, spread across about 3.5 hours in small narrow gauge coaches, is a rich motion diet, though speeds stay low throughout. Riders who fix on the forest and treat the reverses as events to watch generally fare better than those reading through them.
The journey
- Operator
- Alishan Forest Railway
- Duration
- about 3.5 hours Chiayi to Alishan
- Windows
- Narrow gauge coaches
- Season
- Typhoon season risk from July to September
Riding the Alishan Forest Railway? Set it up first
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A winding line is a bad place to go looking for an app. Put it on your phone before you board: Dizzout is a drug-free app that plays precisely calibrated audio through any headphones you already own, wired or Bluetooth, with relief in about 90 seconds. Free to try.
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What helps on board
- The spirals keep the train turning the same way for minutes at a time; watching the forest rotate past is what keeps that from becoming a problem.
- At the switchbacks the train reverses direction; watch it happen, because a direction change you see coming is one your body accepts.
- Mountain humidity plus small coaches means heat builds; keep air moving and drink water on the climb.
- Have a rescue in your pocket: a sound therapy session through any headphones is drug-free, with relief in about 90 seconds.
Where to sit is its own question, answered properly in where to sit on a train for motion sickness. And for why trains set people off at all, from sway to reading to tilting stock, see the train motion sickness guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Alishan railway hard on motion sickness?
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It has the richest motion mix in this cluster: spirals, a figure eight and direction-reversing switchbacks across 3.5 hours. Speeds are low, so nothing is violent, but riders sensitive to sustained turning should treat the Dulishan spiral section with respect and keep their eyes on the forest.
What happens at the switchbacks?
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Above Fenqihu the train pulls onto a dead-end leg, the points change, and it continues up the mountain in reverse, then repeats. Your direction of travel flips, which is momentarily disorienting and part of the line's charm.
Is the line actually open?
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Yes, fully, since 6 July 2024, ending closures that began with typhoon damage in 2009. July to September remains typhoon season, when short-notice suspensions are possible; check status in that window.
Other trains and lines
Sources & further reading
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Details on this page reflect published operator, heritage and engineering information as of September 2026; services, fleets and tilt settings change, so check with the operator before you travel. Train, route and operator names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Motion sickness sensitivity varies from person to person; this page is informational and not medical advice.