At the very same time, though, three secondary lines--Taipei-Tamsui, Tungkang and Tungshih--have been shut down and dismantled in the past four years, and the three secondary lines still left--Pinghsi, Neiwan and chichi--are losing money and facing the threat of imminent closing.
與此同時，自民國七十七年起，北淡、東港、東勢鐵路支線陸續遭到停駛、拆除的命運；僅剩的平溪、內灣、集集三條支線，也在營運虧損的壓力下告急，停駛聲頻傳。