Taipei: Taiwan Railway Corp. (TR) announced Tuesday its proposal for a comprehensive rail safety upgrade plan for eastern Taiwan, targeting completion by 2031. This initiative aims to mitigate landslide and rockfall risks following the 2024 Hualien earthquake.
According to Focus Taiwan, the plan encompasses rail lines along the rugged east coast of the country, including the South Link line that connects Taitung and Pingtung counties. The proposed budget for this extensive safety upgrade is NT$7.799 billion (US$247 million), as stated by TR President Feng Hui-sheng during a news conference.
The project focuses on high-risk sections between Heping and Chongde along the Suhua Highway corridor and adjacent rail lines. Planned interventions include slope stabilization, construction of rock sheds, and enlargement of culverts, Feng detailed.
Transport officials noted that eastern rail lines, often running at lower elevations than parallel highways, are more vulnerable to debris flows, especially during earthquakes and heavy rain. They emphasized that slope instability has worsened since the Hualien quake, which loosened the soil along the corridor.
Feng highlighted that safety improvements are progressing in stages. Last year, short-term measures were completed, including the installation of automated monitoring systems, joint rail-road disaster prevention strategies, water-level gauges, debris-flow detection equipment, and dredging activities.
The plan has undergone reviews by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the National Development Council and is currently awaiting approval from the Executive Yuan. Construction is expected to commence this year and conclude by 2031. The objective is to allow rocks and debris flows to pass safely above or below railway tracks, thereby preventing rail service disruptions. Feng added that the rail work will be synchronized with road improvement projects.
Regarding a potential rerouting of the Northern Link line, which was suggested by the Transport Ministry in 2024, Feng mentioned that studies are ongoing. However, this is not considered a top priority at this time.