A recent study by the Institute of Transportation says the government should aim to export its high-speed rail technology to China and India.
In a study entitled Research into Transportation Development Trends in Asia and China, a Ministry of Transportation and Communication’s (MOTC) think tank said China had surpassed other countries with its rapid construction of high speed rail systems.
However, the technology and management of its high-speed rail network has failed to grow simultaneously, which led to the deadly accident in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, in July last year in which dozens were killed.
Both sides could increase cooperation in regards to manufacturing, maintenance, management and certification of train cars, the study said.
The study also said Taiwan was qualified to offer consultation and provide personnel training for China’s high speed rail system. It urged the government to quickly negotiate with China a cooperation deal for the high speed rail systems on the both sides under the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), which would allow Taiwan’s railway engineering industry to get one step ahead of the competition for other high speed rail and metropolitan rapid system contracts in China.
Meanwhile, the study suggested the same technology be exported to India as well.
It said the Ministry of Railways in India announced last year that it had planned to build Asia’s largest high speed rail network as well as a new high speed rail bureau to manage it. The MOTC and the Ministry of Economic Affairs should work together and establish a comprehensive action plan to export the nation’s railway technology to India, the study said.
Taiwan’s high speed rail was completed in 2007 after eight years of construction and it was built using the build-operate-transfer business model.
Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp, which owns the exclusive rights to operate the high speed rail until 2033, introduced several innovative approaches to boost passenger volume, such as allowing passengers to book tickets at convenience stores.
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