The major defects found in the high-speed rail system as outlined by a dismissed inspection committee were corrected before the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp (THSRC) was given official permission to begin operating, an official said yesterday.
"We will prepare a report [on how the defects were rectified] within one week and mail that report to the inspection committee members," Vice Minister of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) Ho Nuan-hsuen (
Ho made the remarks while being questioned by a group of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers regarding the safety of the new rail system.
The high speed rail inspection committee concluded its inspection report on Nov. 28, saying that six conditions needed to be met before the rail system could become operational.
Among those conditions was the need to address 33 major defects found in the system.
Barred
After their dismissal, committee members were barred from participating in the test run or from taking part in the meeting that was held after the test to review the defects.
The MOTC issued the go-ahead for the train on Sunday upon approval by Lloyd's Register Rail and three Japanese consultants.
Pan-blue lawmakers alleged that the MOTC had shunned the inspection committee.
No disclosure
On Dec. 20, the convenor of the inspection committee, Lin Zone-ching (林榮慶), issued a statement in which he accused the THSRC of refusing to disclose how it intended to deal with the deficiencies that had been discovered by the committee.
"The fact that the inspection committee was unable to ascertain that the 33 defects that it had identified were dealt with appropriately is cause for concern," KMT Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (
Ho said that the MOTC and the three Japanese consultants determined on Dec. 24 that the 33 deficiencies had been addressed appropriately.
"I take full responsibility for issuing the green light for the high-speed rail, because it is my duty," Ho told KMT lawmakers.
The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Wanda-Zhonghe Line is 81.7 percent complete, with public opening targeted for the end of 2027, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said today. Surrounding roads are to be open to the public by the end of next year, Hou said during an inspection of construction progress. The 9.5km line, featuring nine underground stations and one depot, is expected to connect Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station to Chukuang Station in New Taipei City’s Jhonghe District (中和). All 18 tunnels for the line are complete, while the main structures of the stations and depot are mostly finished, he
Taipei is to implement widespread road closures around Taipei 101 on Friday to make way for large crowds during the Double Ten National Day celebration, the Taipei Department of Transportation said. A four-minute fireworks display is to be launched from the skyscraper, along with a performance by 500 drones flying in formation above the nearby Nanshan A21 site, starting at 10pm. Vehicle restrictions would occur in phases, they said. From 5pm to 9pm, inner lanes of Songshou Road between Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101 are to be closed, with only the outer lanes remaining open. Between 9pm and 9:40pm, the section is
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday hosted a reception to celebrate Double Ten National Day. Conservative Canadian lawmaker Marc Dalton called Taiwan a “beacon of courage and resilience in the face of rising authoritarianism,” according to a post on the Taiwan in Vancouver Facebook page. Also in attendance were fellow conservative caucus members Tako Van Popta and Chak Au, who said that Taiwan plays an “indispensable role” in ensuring global peace, prosperity and stability due to its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region, it said. Canadian lawmaker Michael Cooper also recorded a message wishing Taiwan a
RSS