Trains on the Taipei Metro's elevated Wenhu Line are to run at reduced speeds in the event of sudden downpours, lightning strikes or other bad weather conditions to prevent stoppages, Taipei Rapid Transit Corp (TRTC) said today.
To keep the driverless trains running, the system's safety mechanism has been adjusted to automatically reduce current speeds by 75 percent when bad weather events occur, TRTC said in a statement.
Photo courtesy of Taipei Rapid Transit Corp
Taipei Metro personnel would also be dispatched to board the trains for monitoring purposes, the company said.
The announcement was made after a Wenhu Line train stopped on a track for about 10 minutes during rush hour on May 7, causing service disruptions to other trains on the line.
The company later said that the train had lost traction as it rained that day, triggering a safety mechanism that stopped the driverless function and could only be overridden manually.
The incident resulted in a public backlash, prompting TRTC to convene a meeting of experts on Wednesday to conduct a comprehensive review of the Wenhu Line system, which was originally built so that it would cease operations in typhoon conditions.
As extreme climate conditions become more prevalent, TRTC today said there was a need to make the Wenhu Line more weather resistant.
The line's Neihu (內湖) section is designed with steel tracks, making it more prone to becoming slippery during heavy rain, the company said.
Thus, in addition to applying anti-slip coating for better traction, trains would also reduce speeds to improve safety and reduce delays, it added.
A similar incident again happened yesterday, when a Wenhu Line train suddenly stopped on the tracks amid a thunderstorm.
Its operation was only restored after a driver boarded the train to override the system.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS