車站故事
The story of Xinbeitou Historic Station
In Taiwan under Japanese rule, the Xinbeitou branch railway line was constructed, and “Xinbeitou Platform” was established in 1916 (Taisho 5th year) and later renamed as “Xinbeitou Station” in order to boost the hot springs tourism in Xinbeitou region. The name of Xinbeitou just came from the name of the railway station. The building of Xinbeitou Station is the only extant one with more than a hundred years of history in the TRA Tamsui Line and even in Taipei City. With a wood-frame structure, the station is characterized by the engraved brackets under the eaves and the 3-plus-1 oeil-de-boeuf windows resulting from the expansion of the station in 1937. However, the service ceased in 1988 with termination of the TRA Tamsui Line, and the original station building was thus disassembled and moved to Taiwan Folk Village in Changhua for display.
In 2003, with the increase of the awareness of cultural heritage preservation, the Taipei City Government together with non-governmental organizations strived for the return of the station building. With some setbacks along the way, Rirong Asset management Co., Ltd. agreed to donate the Xinbeitou Station building to the Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government after considering the enthusiasm and expectation of the citizens in Taipei for the return of the building.
The reconstruction project was launched immediately after the location was finally decided to be in Qixing Park which is near to the original site of the Station (as seen today) after the traffic test conducted in 2016 with a simulated building. Eventually, it was opened to the public again in April 2017 after the reconstruction.
新北投車站大事紀
Brief Chronology of Xinbeitou Station
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1910 Daikichi Imura, the magistrate of Taipei Prefecture under the Japanese Colonial Government, planned the building of the Beitou Hot Spring Public Bathhouse and Beitou Park.1913 The Beitou Hot Spring Public Bathhouse and Beitou Park were officially completed, laying the foundation for the prosperity of the Xinbeitou hot spring industry.1916 The hot spring railway line, extended from the Tamsui railway line, was completed and the Xinbeitou Platform was established. Thus, the place name "Xinbeitou" was born.1937 Due to the increasing number of tourists and insufficient station space, the station building was expanded by one-third. This gave birth to the station’s characteristic 3-plus-1 asymmetrical roof windows.1945 At the end of World War II, the tracks were dismantled due to lack of supplies.1946 The tracks were repaired and Xinbeitou Station reopened.1979 Xinbeitou Station became less used due to the abolition of prostitution in the Beitou hot spring industry and the increasingly comprehensive bus routes.1988 The TRA Tamsui Line was discontinued and the last train left from Xinbeitou Station.1989 Architect Lee Chung-yao persuaded Mr. Shih Chin-shan, the chairman of the Taiwan Folk Village, and obtained the Taipei City Government’s approval to disassemble the station building and move it to Changhua’s Taiwan Folk Village for public display.1996 The Beitou Society printed an article titled “A Separated Family Member Found; the Return of Xinbeitou Historic Station,” which proposed that Xinbeitou Historic Station be “returned home.” Subsequently, Beitou community residents agreed to have Xinbeitou Historic Station relocated back home.-
2003 Mr. Chen Chang-sheng, the Head of Changan Village in Beitou District, launched a movement for the return of the old station building and received support from the local resident assembly.2004 Peitou Association and Beitou residents initiated the “returning the cherished old station to Xinbeitou” action.2005 Mr. Liao Hsien-hao, the former Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government, along with Beitou community groups, traveled south to the Taiwan Folk Village in Changhua. During the visit they expressed to Mr. Shih Chin-shan the hope of Beitou residents to have the station building returned home.2007 The Beitou Monument Fund Account was established under the Charitable Trust of Taipei Historic Preservation and Development Fund with cooperation between the Department of Cultural Affairs, Peitou Association, and Bank SinoPac. The "Xinbeitou Station Glamor Campaign" was officially launched and the principles of the National Trust were used to raise funds for the repurchase of the station building and subsequent operation and maintenance.2008 The Taiwan Folk Village was foreclosed but failed to be sold. The Department of Cultural Affairs and members of the Peitou Association negotiated with relevant units and the creditor bank, and continued to call on citizens to participate in the hope of bringing the station building back through public-private partnership.2012 The Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government, made multiple visits to the owner of the Taiwan Folk Village (Rirong Asset Management Co., Ltd.) and the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Changhua County Government. The doors and windows of Xinbeitou Historic Station were lost during the transfer of ownership after auction. To prevent further damage, the station was listed as an interim historic site by the Changhua County Government for the third time.2013 Understanding that a historic building must have a connection with its original site to highlight the relationship between the building and local history, the owner of the Taiwan Folk Village (Rirong Asset Management Co., Ltd.) agreed to donate the Xinbeitou Historic Station building to the Taipei City Government.2014 After the station building components were numbered, disassembled, and treated with biological control, they were transported back to Taipei. A large unprecedented parade was held in Beitou to welcome the return, which attracted a huge turnout.2016 The reconstruction location was determined, and the project was launched following several public hearings and the traffic test with a simulated building.2017 The station building was reconstructed in Qixing Park, near the original site. A “Glamour of the Centennial Station” event related to the opening of Xinbeitou Historic Station was held on April 1.2018 Xinbeitou Historic Station was registered as a historic building by the Taipei City Government.2019 The second phase of the Xinbeitou Historic Station Project (i.e., construction of platforms and rails) was completed. The Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei Culture Foundation, and the Taiwan Railways Administration collaborated to bring back a third-class 32850 type passenger car (car number 35TP32850) that once served passengers along the Tamsui Line.
