The Taiwan Railways Administration’s (TRA) two new EMU900 regional trains are to begin operations on Sunday to transport travelers during the Tomb Sweeping Day long weekend.
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) were among the government officials yesterday afternoon presiding over the train’s inauguration ceremony at Keelung Railway Station, the starting point of the nation’s trunk line.
The two regional trains are part of the operator’s acquisition plan from 2015 to 2024, the TRA said, adding that the plan also includes the purchase of EMU3000 intercity trains.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
The addition of the regional and intercity trains to its fleet would greatly increase the agency’s capacity, and enhance the service quality for commuters and long-distance travelers, Tsai said.
“We hope that the TRA will offer quality and safe service, and demonstrate professionalism in the operation, maintenance and deployment of the trains, as well as in customer service,” she said.
New railway systems bring new development opportunities and create new communities, Su said.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
The Forward-Looking Infrastructure Development Program has earmarked NT$190 billion (US$6.66 billion) for railway projects, as they are key infrastructure for the country’s development in the next three decades, he said.
Lin said that the new trains are only the beginning, and that the TRA must ensure thorough maintenance of trains and regular trainings for its staff.
The TRA should also enhance reliability and safety, as this would constitute quality service, he said.
The EMU900’s passenger seats are light blue and priority seats are light pink.
The first and 10th cars are equipped with 12 bicycle racks.
The sixth car features priority spaces for wheelchairs that can also be used for baby strollers.
Pregnant women can request a remote control from train staff, which would allow them operate light and sound signals next to priority seats to remind other passengers to yield the seats.
Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Chi Wen-chung (祁文中), who also serves as acting TRA director, said that the nation’s regional trains are mostly operated with eight railcars.
However, an EMU900 would have 10 cars, increasing the capacity by 40 percent, he said.
EMU900s are manufactured by South Korea-based Hyundai Rotem.
The remaining 500 EMU900s ordered by the operator are to be delivered in three batches: 100 this year, 120 next year and 280 in 2023, the agency said.
The orders totaled NT$25.3 billion, it said.
The operator has also purchased 600 new railcars for intercity trains from Japan’s Toshiba.
“We will retire old regional trains and intercity trains based on the delivery schedules for new trains,” Chi said.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong would likely strengthen into a typhoon later today as it continues moving westward across the Pacific before heading in Taiwan’s direction next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of 8am, Fung-Wong was about 2,190km east-southeast of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving westward at 25kph and possibly accelerating to 31kph, CWA data showed. The tropical storm is currently over waters east of the Philippines and still far from Taiwan, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said, adding that it could likely strengthen into a typhoon later in the day. It is forecast to reach the South China Sea
RSS