A problem with a switch derailed a train on Kaohsiung’s light-rail system during a trial run yesterday, according to the Kaohsiung City Government Mass Rapid Transit Bureau.
Bureau Director-General Wu Yi-long (吳義隆) said at a question-and-answer session with city councilors that, based on preliminary findings, the derailment involved a dislocated switch, with two of the train’s tires located on the up track and another two located on the down track.
The cause of the derailment was being further investigated by Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp (KRTC), the operator of the light-rail system, and its Spanish contractor, CAF, Wu said.
KRTC vice president Ho Hsin (賀新) said his company has established an emergency center to deal with the accident, adjusting the trial run of the light-rail system from two tracks to one, with a headway period of 30 minutes.
After the accident occurred at the C4 stop at 12:42pm yesterday, the 27 passengers on the train were evacuated and transported on another train back to the main terminal, KRTC said.
Kaohsiung’s light-rail system is the first in Taiwan, with Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) earlier this month saying that the first stage of the light-rail system would begin operations next year.
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