Minister of Transportation and Communications Kuo Yao-chi (郭瑤琪) ordered the Bureau of High Speed Rail to turn in a pre-launch testing and inspection plan within two weeks, saying she was displeased over a delay in preparation work ahead of the opening of bullet train service in October.
"I am upset because the director [of the bureau] said they have done their best," Kuo said. "They should have finished stipulating all the regulations for operation and maintenance by February, but no progress has been made."
Kuo told reporters yesterday that the ministry would not have time to improve the train's system if the bureau didn't do anything before Aug. 1, the scheduled date for pre-launch testing of the railway.
She said the ministry might consider breaking down the pre-launch tests so that different items could be reviewed at different stages.
Kuo said she did not regret the decision to put her job on the line over the start date, adding that it was a personal issue.
Last month she promised to step down if the train failed to become operational by October.
However, bureau Director Wu Fu-hsiang (
Wu reiterated that the goal of having the railway fully operational by October remained unchanged.
Wu said the foreign drivers would be able to operate the trains during the initial stage of operation once they take a license test and an orientation exam to familiarize themselves with rail conditions.
THSRC representative Ted Chia (
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning. The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today. The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is next month to hold an exhibition in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the rich and unique history of Taiwanese folklore and literature. The exhibition, which is to run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 at the city’s Central Public Hall, is part of the “We Taiwan” at Expo 2025 series, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural ties with the international community, National Museum of Taiwan Literature director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said. Folklore and literature, among Taiwan’s richest cultural heritages, naturally deserve a central place in the global dialogue, Chen said. Taiwan’s folklore would be immediately apparent at the entrance of the
Speeding and badly maintained roads were the main causes of a school bus accident on a rainy day in Taipei last year that severely injured two people and left 22 with minor injuries, the Taiwan Transportation and Safety Board said. On March 11 last year, a Kang Chiao International School bus overturned inside the Wenshan Tunnel (文山隧道) on the northbound lane of the Xinyi Expressway. The tour bus, owned by Long Lai Co, exceeded the speed limit after entering the tunnel, the board’s investigation found. Sensing that the rear of the vehicle was swaying, the driver attempted to use the service and exhaust
“China is preparing to invade Taiwan,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said in an exclusive interview with British media channel Sky News for a special report titled, “Is Taiwan ready for a Chinese invasion?” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in a statement. The 25-minute-long special report by Helen Ann-Smith released yesterday saw Sky News travel to Penghu, Taoyuan and Taipei to discuss the possibility of a Chinese invasion and how Taiwan is preparing for an attack. The film observed emergency response drills, interviewed baseball fans at the Taipei Dome on their views of US President
RSS