The Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) yesterday said it plans to spend about NT$430 million (US$12.99 million) on building galvanized wire mesh fences along some railway sections considered to be high-risk to reduce casualties caused by trespassing on the tracks.
Administration figures showed that more than 400 accidents have occurred on railway tracks in the past six years, killing 330 people and injuring 211. More than half, or 55 percent, of the casualties occurred as a result of people walking, running or lying on the tracks, with some jumping from platforms onto tracks, the administration said.
This year, trespassing at railway crossings has caused four accidents, killing two people, while trespassing on other railway sections has caused seven accidents, killing six people and injuring one other.
Due to an increase in deaths as a result of trespassing, the administration said that it would install galvanized wire mesh fences along high-risk railway sections this year.
TRA Department of Construction deputy director Chen Chong-chun (陳仲俊) said that the fences cover a total distance of 175km and are to be installed along railway sections that trespassers can enter easily.
The administration said 70 percent of accidents caused by trespassers occurred on tracks along the nation’s west coast, with the section between Yingge Railway Station (鶯歌) in New Taipei City and Pusin Railway Station (埔心) in Taoyuan County recording the most accidents involving trespassing.
The section between Yongkang (永康) and Baoan (保安) stations in Tainan is also considered a high-risk area, despite the names of the two stations meaning “forever healthy” and “god-blessed safety” respectively, it said.
Other high-risk sections include the tracks between Fongyuan (豐原) and Wuri (烏日), as well as between Qingshui (清水) and Longjing (龍井) in Taichung, it added.
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