Tainan:The new Taiwan Railway Tainan Station is scheduled to open on October 17 as part of a significant project to move the city's mainline rail infrastructure underground, according to the Railway Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.

According to Focus Taiwan, the new station is constructed adjacent to the historic Tainan Station and will facilitate the redevelopment of the surrounding area. This redevelopment includes plans for a plaza, parking facilities, a transport hub, and green spaces to enhance connectivity and passenger access.

The station will be the first Taiwan Railway station to implement a color-coded wayfinding system akin to that of the Taiwan High Speed Rail. Blue will indicate northbound trains, while green will signal southbound trains.

This development is a component of the Tainan Urban District Railway Underground Project, aiming to reconnect parts of the city separated by street-level railway tracks. The historic Tainan Station will remain preserved as a heritage site.

The project encompasses an 8.23-kilometer section from the southern end of Daqiao Station to approximately 0.6 kilometers south of Dalin Road. It will also feature two new underground commuter stations, Linsen and South Tainan, set to open in 2029 and 2030, respectively.

Following the station's opening, existing street-level railway tracks will be gradually removed, permitting the second phase of the project, which includes landscaping and other above-ground facilities, to commence.

Upon completion, the project is projected to eliminate 23 railway crossings and other grade-separated intersections, incorporating nine level crossings, eight underpasses, and four overpasses. Approved in 2009 to modernize Taiwan's railway system in metropolitan areas, the project is expected to conclude in stages through 2031.