Railway Department of the Government-General of Taiwan

The Railway Department building in Datong serves as the central office managing train operations and maintenance of Taiwan's national rail system. The structure dates from the 1940s and houses administrative offices for the country's railway network, maintaining its original function today.

The building was established in 1943 as a railway administration center during Japanese rule of the island. After World War II, it transitioned to managing Taiwan's rail system under new administration and has continued this role to the present day.

The structure reflects Taiwan's railway expansion period through its design, serving as a daily workplace for the people managing the national rail network. It stands as a physical reminder of how trains have shaped the island's modern development and connectivity.

The building is accessible during regular weekday office hours and functions as an active government office for railway management. Visitors should expect that certain areas may have restricted access due to ongoing administrative work.

This is one of Taiwan's surviving administrative buildings from the 1940s that still performs its original function after more than eighty years. Its continuous operation through different political periods makes it a living document of how institutions adapt and persist.