Zig Zag Railway Announces Sister Railway Partnership with Alishan Forest Railway
Zig Zag Railway is proud to announce the establishment of an official Sister Railway Partnership with Taiwan’s renowned Alishan Forest Railway (AFR), formalised on 9 December 2025 during a bilateral ceremony celebrating international heritage railway collaboration.
This partnership connects two mountain railways that share not only a deep historical legacy, but also a unique engineering story. Both ZZR and AFR are globally recognised for their iconic switchback (or “zig zag”) formations, ingenious solutions developed over a century ago to conquer steep gradients in rugged terrain. Today, these formations stand as enduring symbols of human perseverance, innovation, and the commitment to preserving living railway heritage.
Located in the mountains of Chiayi, Taiwan, the Alishan Forest Railway spans 71.4 km through a spectacular range of tropical to frigid climates and is managed by the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office under Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture. In 2019, the line was designated as Taiwan’s first nationally significant cultural landscape, highlighting its extraordinary historic, ecological, and cultural value.
For Zig Zag Railway, this partnership reflects our ongoing dedication to restoration, conservation, and volunteer-driven heritage operations. As a railway rebuilt through the passion and resilience of our community following bushfires, floods, and decades of careful preservation, we are honoured to join hands with AFR, an organisation equally committed to safeguarding the stories, craftsmanship, and engineering achievements of mountain railways.
Through this collaboration, ZZR and AFR will work together to promote cultural exchange, share operational knowledge, and strengthen international bonds within the global heritage rail community. Both railways will also feature each other on their official websites as part of this shared commitment to visibility and cooperation.
We look forward to the opportunities this partnership will bring – for our teams, our volunteers, and the visitors who travel from around the world to experience these remarkable railways.
Zig Zag Railway is delighted to welcome Alishan Forest Railway as our Sister Railway, celebrating the spirit of heritage preservation across continents.
