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Last overnight train wraps up service

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Last overnight train wraps up service

Taiwan's last overnight train wraps up service

The last overnight train from ChiDu, Keelung, wrapped up its service in Kaohsiung and was surrounded by hoards of rail fans and locals who eagerly awaited its arrival at Platform 3 to take photos of the special moment on Monday morning. The Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) announced Monday that Chu-Kuang Express train number 531 running along the west coast of Taiwan has just completed its service at 6 a.m. in Kaohsiung, the final destination of the route. As the train arrived, the sound of camera shutters was heard for quite a while among passengers, rail fans, and locals. Connecting the northernmost and southernmost regions of the island, Chu-Kuang Express number 531 had been a part of many Taiwanese’s school-year or family-time memories. The overnight express trains transported young students and families to their destinations and passengers on board could take a nap during midnight train travel. Some passengers were particularly impressed by being able to view the sunrise on the trains. Senior high school students Liu Yi-ting and Tsai Tseng-yen, also rail fans, reportedly took the south-bound overnight train to Kaohsiung and filmed their last journey on the train 531 early Monday in hopes of keeping the memory alive. One passenger said to the media that he particularly liked the moment when the overnight train passed the Chianan Plain and was bathed in the morning mist before sunrise. A railway service reduction plan emerged in early August as the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) labor union urged the state-run company to add corresponding headcount to account for increased rail service over the past years, enable a normal work shift, and cut underutilized midnight and early-morning service to minimize the risk of fatigue and ensure passenger safety. As the train arrived, the sound of camera shutter remained for quite a while among passengers, rail fans, and locals.