Sp.565 Railway Branch Lines Postage Stamps (D565)

Stamp SN : D565
Stamp Name : Sp.565 Railway Branch Lines Postage Stamps
Stamp Cat Standard : Special Stamps
Stamp Cat : Railway
Issue date : 2011-11-12
Dimension of stamps(mm.) : 48 × 24 (mm)
Printer : Cardon Enterprise Co., Ltd.
Sheet composition : 20（4 × 5）
Print color : Colorful
Process : Offset
Paper : Phosphorescent stamp paper
Perforation : 12 1/2
Designer : Tseng Kai-chih

After a century or so of operation, the railway branch lines went into decline due to economic transformation, the rise of highway transport, and the rapid development of cities. But in recent years, as people have demonstrated a greater demand for recreational opportunities, some of these branch lines reopened as heritage railways. Furthermore, in order to provide access to high-speed-rail stations, new branch lines have also been built.
In order to raise understanding about these railway branch lines, Chunghwa Post is issuing a set of five stamps, printed in the format of a vertical se-tenant strip. The designs follow:
1. Shalun Branch Line (NT$5): This 6.52-kilometer branch line in Tainan runs between Zhongzhou Station and Shalun Station. Aimed at better meeting the Tainan metropolitan area’s transportation needs, the building of the branch line required reconstructing the Zhongzhou Station and building two new elevated stations: the aforementioned Shalun Station and the Chang Jung Christian University Station. The line was completed and opened to traffic on January 2, 2011.
2. Jiji Branch Line (NT$5): This 29.7-kilometer branch line runs between Changhua’s Ershui Station and Nantou’s Checheng Station. Originally built for transporting building materials, the line would later carry regular passenger trains and freight trains. Today, it has been transformed into a tourist line. This branch line offers great scenic vistas. Its “green tunnels” is a tourist-worthy attraction. In April of 2010, the section between Longquan and Checheng was closed for tunnel renovations. On July 9, 2011, the project was completed, and the line was once again fully opened.
3. Neiwan Branch Line (NT$12): This 29.9-kilometer branch line runs between Hsinchu Station and Neiwan Station. Originally built for the agriculture, logging, and mining industries, the line gradually shifted its focus to passenger service. There’s a plethora of natural beauty, cultural assets, and ecological resources along the way. In accordance with a plan to improve this line as well as the Liujia Branch Line, beginning in March of 2007, a section on the line between the Hsinchu and Zhudong stations was closed. It is scheduled to reopen on November 12, 2011.
4. Liujia Branch Line (NT$12): This 11.28-kilometer branch line runs between Hsinchu Station and Liujia Station. To meet the transportation needs in the area between Hsinchu and THSR’s Hsinchu Station in Liujia, the Taiwan Railways Administration has undertaken a project to connect its TRA system to the THSR. This project involves elevating the section between the Bei Hsinchu Station and Zhuzhong Station, a section to connect the Zhuzhong Station to the Liujia Station, and building five new stations. The line is expected to open on November 12, 2011.
5. Pingxi Branch Line (NT$15): This 12.9-kilometer branch line runs between Sandiaoling and Jingtong of New Taipei City. Originally a railroad built exclusively to ship coal, it was later for passenger and freight trains. The line boasts views of enchanting rural landscapes. The quaint old streets of the towns along the line, the old train stations, and folk customs such as the releasing of sky lanterns in Pingxi have all contributed to make this branch line a popular and unique tourist line.
(1) First Day Cover: NT$3 apiece. (2) Folder: NT$8 apiece. (3) Folder with mount: NT$8 apiece. (4) Loose-leaf album page: NT$8 apiece. (5)Pre-cancelled FDC affixed with one NT$5-denominated stamp: NT$8 apiece. (6) Pre-cancelled FDC affixed with a complete set of stamps: NT$52 apiece.
To purchase the relative philatelic products, please go directly to the post office branches, or order on line at http://stamp.post.gov.tw .
Since November 12, 2011, the issuing date of the stamps, is Saturday, Chunghwa Post additionally designates the following post office branches except for those regularly running business on Saturdays for philatelic business on that date: Jiji Post Office, Hengshan Neiwan Post Office, Zhubei Liujia Post Office, Pingxi Post Office and Taipei Yixian Post Office.(business hours: 8:30 – 12:00)