Media Center

News Releases

2021/08

Taiwan Welcome Home: CTCI REI Uses Smart Jacking Technology to Bring 80-Year-Old Kaohsiung Railway Station Back to Its Original Location　
　

With more than six months of jacking and movement by an expert team at CTCI Resources Engineering Inc. (CTCI REI), the 2,500-ton and 80-year-old Kaohsiung Railway Station will finally be relocated to its original location, after 19 years of displacement due to excavation needs for underground rail works and metro line construction. 



This project, known as “Kaohsiung Railway Station Relocation Turnkey Project,” marks another glorious chapter in building relocation in Taiwan since 2006, when CTCI REI helped relocate another historic building dating back to Japanese colonial period, the Taipei Ministry of Railway. 



The challenge of relocation lies in moving the station across the top of the new underground station. This is no easy engineering task. To do so, the entire structure needs to be “jacked”, or lifted. CTCI REI does this with intelligent structural jacking and movement (iSJM) technique. This involves using a computer-controlled system to precisely control 252 jacks so that the force is exerted upon the entire station structure simultaneously, thereby allowing the station to rise evenly, move horizontally, and lower steadily. The process is monitored in real-time through monitoring equipment and network systems to avoid building damage. It truly exemplifies CTCI REI’s utmost care for prolonging the life of an architecture, as well as its dedication in engineering technologies.



Relocation began on March 17. On May 21, the main building was raised to a height of 3.94 meters. After successfully moving the building northbound for 4.8 meters on July 28, westward movement began on August 22, which is due to cover 57.86 meters. The station is due to arrive at final and permanent location on September 26. Then it will be lowered 2.19 meters and will settle on a foundation with anti-seismic components, so that it can withstand future earthquakes. 



After further renovation and internal decoration, the old railway station will once again stand on the original site of the central axis of Zhongshan Road and Boai Road in Kaohsiung City. It will be integrated with the new Kaohsiung Railway Station, become a new cultural and historical icon, and continue to serve travelers from all around the world.　

　

Built during Japanese colonial period in 1941, the main body of Kaohsiung Railway Station resembles the Chinese character "Gao" (meaning high). The style of the rooftop is "Tang Bofeng," which dates back to China’s Tang Dynasty. Resembling an emperor's hat, such architecture is also known as an imperial crown building.　

　

Jacking and movement in action with iSJM technique.　

　

Jacking and movement in action with iSJM technique.　

　

Future look of Kaohsiung Railway Station