After 16 years of construction, the first section of Tainan’s railway undergrounding project officially opened for business on Saturday. The closure of the level crossings, overpasses, and underpasses the night before is sure to live on in Tainan’s memory and as a milestone for Taiwan’s railway history. With nostalgia and perhaps a touch of sadness, crowds gathered to bid farewell to the last Tze-chiang Limited Express to depart from Tainan Railway Station at about 10pm on Friday.
Railways hold a special place in the hearts of many Taiwanese. When operations ceased for the Tamsui Line in July 1988 and the Western Trunk’s old Mountain Line in September 1998, large crowds also turned out to say their goodbyes.
With the new underground station opening up to the public, the main building of the original station is to be preserved. Built in 1936 during the Japanese colonial era, Tainan’s second-generation railway station is nationally designated as a historic landmark, and has been a part of life in Tainan for 90 years. It has been an important witness to the development of Taiwan’s railways, linking generations of Tainan residents through shared memories. Together, the old and new stations present a harmonious combination of architectural art from the past and the present.
Once restoration is complete, the old station is to be developed into a cultural and artistic space with restaurants and exhibition venues. About 50 years ago, the second floor of the old station housed a famous railway restaurant where many people had their first experiences of dining out. Preserving the old station serves a historical function as it brings scenes from the past back to life. As the opening of the underground railway begins a new chapter for Tainan, we look forward to this historically significant building being fully restored and opened to the public.
For years, the Tainan City Government has spared no effort in restoring a whole array of historic buildings. These include: the National Museum of Taiwan Literature, formerly the Tainan Prefectural Hall; the Tainan Judicial Museum; Hayashi Department Store (林百貨); the Tainan Martial Arts Hall; the Old Japanese Patriotic Women’s Association building; the Tainan City Fire Museum; the Tainan Art Museum Building 1; and now, Tainan Station. These buildings each all possess distinct cultural, architectural and historical value. Their restoration and reemergence in the city make them precious assets of modern urban culture.
Fang Tze-yu is an assistant professor at Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology.
Translated by Gilda Knox Streader