The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) is seeking to resolve the problems surrounding the much-delayed Taoyuan Airport Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) System through an independent ad hoc committee, which is to be formed by the end of the month.
The ministry has been forced to postpone the launch of the Airport MRT System six times as the contractor failed contractually required standards during testing.
The ministry proposed that Taoyuan Metro Corp, the future operator of the Airport MRT System, launch simultaneous drills in the train stations while the contractor conducts its tests. The proposal was bluntly turned down by Taoyuan Metro.
To facilitate the launch of the system, MOTC Minister Hochen Tan (賀陳旦) promised to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate why the system is failing the tests.
According to the Bureau of High Speed Rail, the agency overseeing the testing of the system, the contractor has yet to be able to maintain the required 60kph average operational speed for express trains and 45kph for regular trains.
The bureau said the independent committee would consist of nine members, all of whom are experts from third parties who have extensive experience in civil engineering and railway systems.
The Taoyuan City Government would have one representative on the committee, it added.
The committee is scheduled to present a report in August on whether the system is ready to be launched and providing recommendations on what the bureau should do to resolve the disputes with the contractor, the bureau said.
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