阿里山森林鐵路之過去、現在與未來

Past, Present and Future of the Mt. Ali Forest Railway

阿里山以日出、雲海、晚霞、神木、登山鐵道等「五奇」而聞名。而隨著全球氣候變遷所造成天災之破壞一次比一次嚴峻，阿里山森林鐵路也深受其害。因此本文嘗試探討阿里山森林鐵路的過去、現在以及森林鐵路未來之發展，進而提出一些建議之可行方向。透過回顧阿里山鐵路在不同階段的發展，可以了解阿里山鐵路系統的營運、修護與保養以及人員訓練等都需要嶄新的思維來面對。因此，未來阿里山鐵路的經營將何去何從？其定位為何？政府應有一具體之政策，及相關配套措施。然未來之經營，需要財力的挹注，也需要推動之相關單位，因此建議政府成立森林鐵路發展基金來確保發展阿里山森林鐵路之財務永續。並由行政院文化建設委員會、交通部及行政院農業委員會組成一專案小組，來替阿里山鐵路尋求具體可行之永續發展之道。相較於國外許多成功的將舊鐵路打造成世界知名旅遊景點的例子，阿里山森林鐵路仍缺乏觀光主題設計，因此亦希望主事單位若能虛心參考印度、日本政府與民眾為自己國內舊鐵路所做的用心與努力，應該可從中尋得阿里山鐵路之新契機。

Mountain Ali is well known for its sun rise, sea of clouds, sun set, scared tree, and mountain railway. However, due to the global climate change, the natural disasters have caused serious damage to the Alishan Forest Railway. This article suggests the future development of the Alishan Forest Railway by reviewing its past and the present. According to the different stages of development of the Alishan Forest Railway, new thinking of systematic operations, repairs, maintenances, and personnel trainings should be developed to confront such changes. Therefore, questions about the operations and the position of the Alishan Forest Railway have been arisen and should be solved by the government with related policies and coordinated strategies. The Alishan Forest Railway's future operations require adequately financd and promotions. To ensure the sustainable financial development of the Alishan Forest Railway, the government could establish a forest railway foundation to complement it. Moreover, the Council for Cultural Affairs, the Ministry of Transportation & Communications and the Council of Agriculture can compose a special committee to identify feasible solutions for the long-lasting development of the the Alishan Forest Railway. Compared with internationally successful cases on the renovations of old railways into tourism sights, the Alishan Forest Railway lacks the design for tourism theme. The earnese efforts that India and Japan have done for their old railways can be good references for the authorities to find new development opportunities for the Alishan Forest Railway.