TRA Train Accident Reported in Miaoli; 1500 Passengers Affected 台鐵苗栗南勢隧道1死事故 影響1500旅客

A man died after he jumped in front of a local train as it was passing through the Nanshi Tunnel near Miaoli on the 4th, affecting over 1,500 passengers. The police is still investigating the case. 

Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) workers quickly set up stepping plates in between and assisted passengers in getting off and on to another train. Police also arrived at the scene for investigation. The train driver was still frightened as he recounted what had happened. 

Mr. Lin, Driver of TRA local train: “It happened within a matter of seconds. He hid in the tunnel and jumped out as the train drove through. ”

A man suddenly jumped out in front of the TRA train no. 2011 as it drove through Nanshi Tunnel in Miaoli at around 7 a.m. on the 4th. The man was killed on the spot although the train had braked immediately. Police later found the man's belongings in the tunnel.

TRA said that the local train no. 2011 departed from Hsinchu early in the morning and was heading towards Changhua. TRA quickly opened the main west line track between Miaoli and Tongluo for trains to go both directions while arranging another local train going down south for passengers from train no. 2011 to finish their trip.

Passenger: “(The train got delayed.) I know. (Do you know why?) I don't know. ”

Wu Chao-ti, Stationmaster, Miaoli Train Station: “Passengers are brought to Tongluo Train Station and we have arranged another train to pick them up to continue on their journey. The police have taken over the investigation into the train accident.”

It is the third day of the Qinming Festival long weekend and the railway passenger flow remains high. TRA staff members in the area were caught off guard by the accident and were very busy taking care of the aftermath. Although train services went back to normal at around 8:50 a.m., the accident had caused delaying of eight trains with about 1500 passengers affected. The police are currently investigating the train accident involving the seemingly suicidal man.  

台鐵人員架設踏板，從事故列車將旅客接駁到另外一列區間車，警方也到事故現場調查。列車駕駛提到事發經過，還是心有餘悸。

台鐵區間車林姓司機員說：「一瞬間而已，他就躲在那個洞洞，（列車經過）就跑出來。」

4日上午7點左右，這列2011次區間車，行經苗栗銅鑼路段的南勢隧道時，正要出隧道時，撞擊到一名男子。雖然緊急剎車，還是造成男子不治。警方也在隧道的避車洞，找到疑似男子的物品。

台鐵表示，這列2011次的區間車，是由新竹開往彰化，上午7時左右在銅鑼發生意外。事發後將苗栗到銅鑼間的西正線，改為單線雙向行車，也緊急調派另一列南下的區間車，將乘客接駁繼續南下。

台鐵苗栗車站站長吳兆迪回應：「將旅客接駁到銅鑼站，再用其他列車繼續續行，後續的事故我們交由警方來做調查。」

由於連假第三天，都還是輸運高峰，這起事件也讓台鐵人員忙得不可開交。雖然狀況在8時50分恢復雙線行車，但台鐵估計影響有8列次，旅客約1500人，事發原因也要進一步調查。