Longjing Station 龍井車站

Longjing, a coastal region in Taichung City, is home to the largest coal-fired power plant in the world, that is the Taichung Power Plant. Thus, Longjing Station's primary use is to transport coal to the plant, but it also transport passengers, albeit only via Local Trains as larger trains such as the Chu-Kuang and Tze-Chiang Expresses only stop at the adjoining northbound station of Shalu.

Information

• Type: Aboveground station
• Grade: Grade 3 stop
• No. of platforms: 1
• Platform type: Island platform
• Establish date: 12/15/1920
• Former name: English name unchanged, i.e. Longjing Stn. (龍井驛)
• Surrounding stations
• Dadu Stn. (大肚, 5.0km southbound; 5 mins)
• Shalu Stn. (沙鹿, 4.6km northbound; 5 mins)

The theme color of the station seems to be blue, as evident inside the waiting hall.

Cloud drawings also adorn the walls, as if to mimic the sky in an interior area.

This station is only semi-wheelchair friendly. There's a ramp to the station but no elevator to the platform.

A less-known fact about the station is that it was nearly reduced to a flag stop due to poor business in the 60's. It was only promoted from a light stop to it's current Grade 3 rank in the 70's after increasing coal demands for the Taichung Power Plant as well as plants as far up north like Shen'ao and Linkou. Daily freighter trains transport coal from the nearby Longjing Coal Warehouse to Taiwan's coal-fired power plants. But all good things must come to an end as the future of Longjing Station is uncertain. With the disestablishment of the Linkou (Taolin) Line in 2012 and dwindling coal supplies in the region, the station's rank may be reduced again. (source)

The Taichung Power Plant in the foreground with its four gigantic stacks.

View to the south from the overhead bridge to the platform.

View to the north with the station's sole island platform with two tracks on each side.

An ancient brick warehouse to the south of the station. This is not the coal warehouse though.

If you look at older pictures of Longjing Station, you will notice that much has changed from its original simple facade. The designs of Longjing and Dadu stations are actually very similar. Renovations were made a few years back by the former district chief to upgrade the look with a modern design. The original white sign was replaced with block with nostalgic train photos on the sides and three cloud designs in the front and back, with the Chinese name of the station elevated on four calligraphic letter signboards. The TRA logo is also missing from the upgrade, making Longjing's front sign distinctively different from all stations in the central region. The walls are also lined with wooden planks, as if to signify a fusion of modern and traditional styles.

Also added is a tiled square at the entrance, filled with outlines of TRA's locomotives.

The newly built overpass. Maybe one day they should add an elevator as well for the disabled.

The rear of the station is less attractive than its front due to two electric poles.

There is also a small garden at the left of the rear station. One can only view it at the platform as its entrance is sealed off. The renovation also bought a rest area at the left of the entrance next to the washroom, with information signs and tourist maps of the region. Like I said, this quiet station actually manages to blend modernity and heritage successfully. 

The station's washroom also gets a facelift, that is the picture of the well which gave birth to the district's name.

Locomotive stone bench at the rest area. The foreground is a map of Nanliao Hiking Trail.

Metal board of the famous CK124 locomotive at the entrance.

Playful wall art on the wall of the station attendant's quarters.

Longjing literally means Dragon Well in Chinese, and there's a valid history of the district's etymology. There is a well in an alley in Chie Tou Village near the station which was claimed to look like a dragon's eye, earning it's name of Dragon Eye Well in the early days. The well was sourced from the roots of by two banyan trees, making a unique shape in which two trees are holding a well together. However as time passed, one banyan was fallen and the other is currently alone at the original site of the well. The area was later reconstructed with the well covered with concrete instead. I did not visit the well in this visit but I may in the future. To go there, you must walk from the station to the main road (with E Sun Bank to your left), cross the road and head left until you see a bus stop bearing the name "龍泉". Turn right into the alley before the stop and you'll find the well. It's on Google Maps as well, so its safe to say that its rather well known these days.

The vibrantly painted island platform.

The station's garden as viewed from the platform. The old sign is still retained.

Like many platforms on the Coast Line, the roof has a distinct W shape.

Celestial dragon motives of the sign at the platform entrance.

Yet another example of the station's mix of modern vs. traditional. The dragon picture is newly added but the words Longjing has been sprayed painted on the wall a long time ago.

Longjing Station is currently accessible only by Local Trains. There are a lot of runs per day. You can also take the buses 102, 105 and 166 from Taichung Station and 93, 102 and 166 from THSR Taichung Station. Do ask for the station's rubber ink stamp at the counter if you're into collecting souvenir stamps.

Route markers showing the adjoining stations.

Panoramic view of Longjing Station.

Arrival of a northbound Local Train.