TAIPEI, Taiwan — Pikachu is leaving the screen and jumping aboard Taiwan’s railway.
Taiwan Railway Corporation is launching a Pokémon-themed EMU800 train on September 25 as part of celebrations marking the global franchise’s 30th anniversary, turning an ordinary rail journey into a colorful trip through the world of Pokémon.
The limited-time project is a collaboration between Taiwan Railway, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store and The Pokémon Company, with the inaugural journey event held at Taipei Main Station.
For Pokémon fans, the biggest attraction may be what happens once the train doors close.
Pikachu—and Pokémon classics—are everywhere
The specially decorated EMU800 train features Pokémon-themed details both inside and outside the carriages.
Train doors showcase first-generation Pokémon and Pikachu, the franchise’s instantly recognizable mascot.
Even the floor gets in on the theme, featuring a Poké Ball design.
Passengers moving between carriages will also encounter larger displays featuring popular Pokémon including Charizard, Venusaur, Blastoise, Typhlosion and Feraligatr.
The result is a railway experience designed to make the train itself part of the anniversary celebration rather than simply transporting passengers to their destination.
The Pokémon nostalgia stretches across generations
The collaboration is also tapping into the franchise’s unusually long cultural reach.
Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Vice President Michael Wu recalled watching Pokémon every day when he was in junior high school 30 years ago.
He said he still watches the franchise with his children, describing Pokémon as a way to start conversations between generations.
That generational connection is particularly fitting for a 30th-anniversary celebration: a franchise first embraced by children in the 1990s now has fans who are parents introducing the characters to their own children.
The train won’t disappear after the launch
The Pokémon-themed EMU800 is scheduled to operate from September 25 through December 13.
It will travel to destinations along Taiwan’s west coast, although the special service excludes weekend reserved trains.
Taiwan Railway said the operating schedule will be released through its website and social-media channels.
That means the Pokémon train will have several months to make appearances across Taiwan rather than remaining a one-day anniversary attraction.
Why the collaboration stands out
The partnership combines three very different elements: Taiwan’s railway network, a major Taiwanese department-store brand and one of the world’s most recognizable entertainment franchises.
Instead of celebrating Pokémon solely through merchandise or an exhibition, the collaboration turns a moving public space into part of the experience.
For passengers who grew up with the franchise, details such as Pikachu, Poké Balls and the original Pokémon lineup offer a dose of nostalgia. For younger fans, the same train provides a physical introduction to characters they may know primarily from games, animation and other Pokémon media.
And with the service continuing into December, the anniversary celebration will keep moving across Taiwan’s railway network.
The question now isn’t whether Pokémon has reached Taiwan’s railway—it is where the Pikachu train will appear next.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
