Additional Buses Dispatched for Stranded Passengers|單線通車人潮擠爆 客運加密班次疏運

Due to the derailing of the Puyuma Express train, many trains were delayed or canceled, and workers had to work through the night on repairs. Two-way traffic on one eastern line track finally resumed at 5 a.m. on Oct. 22, but delays are still expected as only one track is operational. Additional long-haul buses were dispatched in the morning to help traveler's commute.


Following a night of repairs, the eastern line of Taiwan Railways' East Coast Main Lane resumed operations at 5:12 a.m. For the time being, there was only one track available for both directions. The first train, the Hualien-bound 4102, traveled past the accident site without incident at 5:54 a.m.

Due to the accident's effect on train schedules, many passengers were forced to stay in Yilan overnight and rushed to the station first thing in the morning.

I was returning last night, but because of the delays, we didn't get on our way until 9 a.m. this morning.

I was going back last night. I had my ticket already. I had to stay in Luodong overnight.

There are normally 44 East Coast Main Line trains running from Yilan to Hualien every day and 48 from Hualien to Yilan. With only one track available, delays were inevitable. The Directorate General of Highways worked with long-haul bus companies to run additional buses. Luodong Bus Station, for example, had 33 percent more buses coming and going than usual.

One bus company said because Monday was a weekday, there was a relatively bigger crowd but all passengers were able to get on a bus in the morning. According to DGH estimates, 352 buses transported over 10,000 passengers between the afternoon of the 21st and the 22nd. The DGH says it will continue working with bus companies to dispatch more buses if needed.