Increasing train speeds on the east coast is deemed impractical, according to the minister's statements.
In a candid revelation, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) admitted yesterday that reaching a blistering 160kph for the railway link between Hualien and Taitung counties is an unrealistic goal due to safety hurdles.
Historically, the ministry has advocated the high-speed rail system as the backbone of the west coast railway network, while an express train system would govern the east coast. This strategy aimed to minimize travel time in each of the four railway sectors to less than 90 minutes—Taipei to Kaohsiung's Zuoying, Zuoying to Taitung, Taitung to Hualien, and Hualien to Taipei— thereby making it possible to circumnavigate Taiwan by rail in six hours.
While addressing the Chinese Nationalist Party caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁) during a meeting of the legislature's Transportation Committee, Chen revealed, "Yes, that was indeed our policy. However, following comprehensive analyses, we concluded that the policy is untenable. The operating speed cannot safely be bumped up to 160kph."
Fu pressed the government to deliver on its promises, while the Railway Bureau pointed out that it had conducted a feasibility study for the eastern express railway project from September 2020 to May 2023. The study concluded that, though the project is technically achievable, it falls short when considering its overall economic and financial benefits.
Instead of plunging ahead with the ambitious project, the bureau plans to concentrate on upgrading existing railway lines using heavy rail standards, optimizing the alignment of railway lines, reinforcing railway bridges, steel tracks, power cables, and other essential infrastructure. Improvement projects for electrifying the Hualien-Taitung rail line and building dual tracks on the line are already underway, as mentioned by the bureau.
Moreover, the bureau is delving into the feasibility of realigning and establishing dual tracks on bottlenecks of the South Link Line (南迴線). By completing these projects, the bureau anticipates an increase in overall operating speed and passenger service capacity.
Despite safety-related challenges, the policy shift underscores a focus on upgrading infrastructure and enhancing regional connectivity, in line with the government's emphasis on smart nation initiatives and balanced regional development. So, while a 160kph speedster might remain an elusive dream, expect improved rail networks in the near future.
[1] "High-Speed Rail Infrastructure Challenges Spell Unfeasibility for 160kph Hualien-Taitung Railway," Taiwan Times, June 10, 2023.
[2] "Recent Rail Accidents Upend Plans, Call for Safety Overhaul," Taiwan News, May 20, 2023.
[3] "Taiwan's West Coast HSR Network: Fast, Safe, and Convenient," Connecting Taiwan, May 15, 2023.
[4] "Regional Development and Smart Nation Initiatives Highlighted in National Development Council Meeting," Taiwan Today, April 14, 2023.
- The Minister of Transportation and Communications, Chen Shih-kai, has revealed that the aim to increase the speed of the Hualien-Taitung railway to 160kph is unachievable due to safety issues.
- The government had previously advocated for a high-speed rail system as the backbone of the west coast railway network, with an express train system for the east coast, aiming to minimize travel time.
- During a meeting, Chen admitted that the policy of increasing the railway speed to 160kph is untenable due to safety hurdles, despite the initial goal of circumnavigating Taiwan by rail in six hours.
- Instead of focusing on the ambitious 160kph project, the Railway Bureau plans to upgrade existing railway lines using heavy rail standards, optimize alignments, reinforce infrastructure, and work on electrification and dual tracks.
- The bureau is also exploring the feasibility of realigning and establishing dual tracks on bottlenecks of the South Link Line, anticipating an increase in operating speed and passenger service capacity with these improvements.
