Speed of Taiwan Train That Derailed Was Allegedly Speeding At 3 Times Its Speed Limit

Oftentimes, I feel like we might be taking SMRT’s safety measures just a little for granted.

Every day we take the train, blissfully unaware of how much effort it takes to sustain the train system; as well as the sheer resources that go into making sure everything’s working fine. But if the Taiwan train disaster was anything to go by…

We really should be more thankful for the constant maintenance services no matter how much inconvenience it has brought.

And of course, the fact that everything’s so well-organised that speeding’s pretty much an elusive issue.

Taiwan Train Disaster

The fastest of Taiwan’s regular trains, the Puyama Express began working in 2013 to negotiate the rough terrain of the east coast. But it seems that five years down the line…

The negotiation didn’t really work out.

On Sunday (21 October), the express train derailed on a coastal tourist route, sending passengers flying out of the carriage windows. Thereafter the train was left lying zig-zagged across the tracks, as the incident was proclaimed the island’s worst rail accident for a quarter century.

Rescue efforts immediately ensued, as elsewhere, relatives were still distinctly unaware that they’ve entered the mourning phase.

And on Monday (22 Oct), officials expressed that the search for victims had concluded at the accident site in the northeastern country of Yilan, and that there were no more passengers found in the carriages.

The total death count stood at 18, while the injury toll scaled to a staggering figure of 187.

And it seems that…

An initial inquiry discovered that speeding might have been the cause behind the accident, according to the official Central News Agency.

Having come off the rails on a curve, the train was discovered to have been moving at close to 140kmh, well above the speed limit of 46kmh. This was in accordance with the findings of the investigation team, Wu Ze-cheng.

However, the results are not conclusive, and more investigation is needed to ascertain the cause. The train data recorder, which keeps a tab on speed among other things, had been sent to prosecutors for examination.

As for the driver…

He has since been detained in connection with the island’s worst rail disaster in decades.

The driver, You Zhen-Zhong, 48, was subsequently let out on bail of T$500,000 (US$16,167) after he was taken in for investigation. This was in accordance with Taiwan Railways Administration’s statement. Following the incident, he had been treated in hospital.

The disaster was Taiwan’s worst rail accident, since a 1981 collision that caused 30 deaths.

Incidentally, the head of the state railway administration, Lu Jie-shen, had handed in a resignation letter, but it wasn’t accepted by the transport minister.

Condolences

To the individuals mourning your family members’ deaths over in Taiwan, our hearts go out to you.

And to fellow Singaporeans, rest assured, for MFA has expressed that there’re no reports of Singaporean casualties in the Taiwan train crash.

So be relieved, and perhaps we could start thanking SMRT for their constant vigilance on the tracks.

Since technically the train delays have lessened too.