The Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Alishan Forest Railway Cultural Heritage Management Office achieved a new milestone in a transnational friendship with the UK. Anne Wright, chair of the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway led a delegation to Taiwan for the first time from March 8-10, welcomed by AFRCHMO Director Wang Chao-pao.
Wang and Wright officially signed an extended loan agreement for the Alishan railway diesel locomotive DL-34 on Mar. 10, so that the train will continue to serve as a cultural ambassador until 2030. The AFRCHMO and the Welsh W & LLR set up a sister railway relationship in 2017 and in November 2022, they signed a loan agreement for the train, which started running in Wales in 2024.
In January this year, James Brett, general manager of W & LLR and Joe Gunby, repair factory manager, visited Taiwan for a five-day technical dialogue exchange. Together with technicians from the AFRCHMO's repair facility, they discussed DL-34 liquid transmission, deepening the relationship from cultural exchange to specific locomotive maintenance and technology.
Wang stated that the technical exchanges early this year and the renewal are evidence of close cooperation and shared technology. DL-34's continued tenure in the UK until 2030 is also a shared commitment to the cultural heritage of the railway.
The 10th anniversary of the sister railway relationship with the UK falls in 2027, and Wang said he is committed to building relationships and technical cooperation with international railway organizations to ensure that the Alishan Forest Railway remains a calling card to the world. (POC-E)
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Wang and Wright officially signed an extended loan agreement for the Alishan railway diesel locomotive DL-34 on Mar. 10, so that the train will continue to serve as a cultural ambassador until 2030. The AFRCHMO and the Welsh W & LLR set up a sister railway relationship in 2017 and in November 2022, they signed a loan agreement for the train, which started running in Wales in 2024.
In January this year, James Brett, general manager of W & LLR and Joe Gunby, repair factory manager, visited Taiwan for a five-day technical dialogue exchange. Together with technicians from the AFRCHMO's repair facility, they discussed DL-34 liquid transmission, deepening the relationship from cultural exchange to specific locomotive maintenance and technology.
Wang stated that the technical exchanges early this year and the renewal are evidence of close cooperation and shared technology. DL-34's continued tenure in the UK until 2030 is also a shared commitment to the cultural heritage of the railway.
The 10th anniversary of the sister railway relationship with the UK falls in 2027, and Wang said he is committed to building relationships and technical cooperation with international railway organizations to ensure that the Alishan Forest Railway remains a calling card to the world. (POC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
from Taiwan Today – Top News