Taiwan suffers worst rail accident in modern times

A DERAILMENT on April 2 in a tunnel resulted in 49 deaths, the worst death toll in an accident on Taiwan’s railways since 1948.

The train involved was a ‘TEMU1000’ tilting 1,067mm gauge eight-car EMU built by Hitachi in 2016 at Kasado in

Japan, operating a ‘Taroko Express’ service from Shulin to Taitung on the coastal ‘North-Link’ line beside the Pacific Ocean.

Negligent homicide

The train hit a truck that had fallen onto the track off a main road above from an adjacent embankment. According to prosecutors, who have now charged the truck driver with negligent homicide, the truck had been stuck in bushes, and slipped and fell during rescue efforts. The driver failed to inform railway authorities immediately, despite being a contract rail maintenance worker.

The train hit the truck immediately outside the Shimzu Tunnel, around 25km north of Hualien, and derailed as it entered. The first four vehicles were severely damaged in the incident, as several carriages came to a halt inside the tunnel. Both train drivers were killed.

Roof escape

The accident site made rescue work very difficult. Many survivors escaped by walking along the roof of the derailed train, which was particularly busy with passengers travelling for the local Qingming festival holiday weekend, when families gather to remember their ancestors. About 500 people were on board.

Taiwan’s Transport Minister, Mr Lin Chia-lung, has resigned, saying he took responsibility for the accident.