TRA Announces Projects to Improve Safety|東部鐵路截彎取直 "新馬站"北遷1.4公里

In October 2018, a Taiwan Railways Administration Puyuma-class train overturned, killing 18 people. The TRA subsequently announced it would make improvements to improve safety, including plans to straighten out curved sections of railway in eastern Taiwan.


In October 2018, a Taiwan Railways Administration Puyuma-class train was passing through Yilan's Xinma Station when it derailed and overturned, killing 18 passengers and injuring more than 190. The cause of the accident was thought to be excessive speed when making a turn. The tracks around Xinma Station are considered "Taiwan's most curved rail tracks" as the curve radius of the station is only 306 meters. The TRA recently announced plans to relocate Xinma Station 1.4 kilometers to the north, to the north side of Wulaokeng Bridge. In the future, the curve radius for the 2.6 kilometers to Suao New Station will be 500 meters, which is equivalent to straightening the curve. The cost is estimated at NT$ 600 million, and the project is expected to be completed in three years' time at the earliest.

After it is shifted north, it will be between Dongshan Station and Suao New Station. It will also be closer to Yilan's Wulaokeng Scenic Area.

There are also 16 curved sections between Houtong Station and Shuangxi Station that the TRA plans to improve. The average curve radius is under 500 meters. The plan calls for a 7,400-meter-long tunnel to be built, which will turn the road into a long winding road with a curve radius of 1,500 meters. The slope will be 0.0082, allowing trains to travel at 130 kilometers per hour. The cost of this project is estimated at NT$ 9.54 billion, and will be completed in 2025.

Before, the speed at which trains could travel on the nine-kilometer-long section between Houtong and Shuangxi stations was about 70 (kilometers per hour). After we complete the improvements, the speed can be increased to 130 (kilometers per hour). This will shorten the travel time by an estimated five minutes.

The TRA says straightening the rail tracks around Xinma Station will strengthen the basic infrastructure of eastern Taiwan. The newly built sections can help to renew Yilan's railway, reduce maintenance and labor requirements, and save money. As for the second plan, the scope is larger and the expropriation of land and homes will be necessary. The TRA aims to complete it within six years' time.