High-speed rail services adjusted from 2 p.m. amid typhoon

Taipei, Aug. 13 (CNA) Taiwan's high-speed rail line will run normally until 2 p.m. and then switch to three all-stop, non-reserved seat trains (excluding business class cars) every hour after that as Typhoon Podul approaches, Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. (THSRC) said.

The revised scheduled will begin at 2 p.m., with trains departing each hour from Nangang Station (southbound) in Taipei and Zuoying Station (northbound) in Kaohsiung on the hour and at 20 and 40 minutes past the hour from each terminus, THSRC said in a statement.

Taiwan has one high-speed rail line that runs north-south between Taipei and Kaohsiung.

The adjustment was made based on the latest weather information early Wednesday morning and an overall assessment of train operation safety.

According to the Central Weather Administration, as of 10 a.m., the center of Typhoon Podul was located about 90 kilometers southeast of Taitung, moving west-northwest at a speed of 32 kilometers per hour.

As of Wednesday morning, Podul's storm circle was gradually entering the southeastern, southern, and eastern parts of Taiwan, posing a threat to Taitung and Hualien counties in the east, areas south of Miaoli County in the west, and the outlying Penghu and Kinmen counties.

The high-speed rail operator said the schedule changes mean that the last trains on Wednesday will depart from Nangang Station at 9:40 p.m. to Zuoying, and 10:40 p.m. to Taichung; and from Zuoying Station at 9:40 p.m. to Nangang, and 10:40 p.m. to Taichung.

On ticket refunds due to the typhoon, THSRC said passengers with tickets during the period from when the sea typhoon warning was issued -- Tuesday in Podul's case -- to when it is canceled can request a full refund without service fees within one year from the travel date at any THSRC station.

This applies whether the trains operated normally but were not boarded, or were rescheduled or canceled during that period.

Passengers holding tickets for affected services who switch to a lower-fare class may claim the fare difference at station ticket counters within one year from the travel date.

THSRC also said that to ensure operational safety during the typhoon, trains will operate at reduced speeds if wind speeds or rainfall in a particular section of the rail line exceed safety limits.

In the event of delays caused by these safety measures, which are considered natural factors, the delay compensation policy will not apply, the company said.

It advised passengers to allow extra time for transfers and connections to ensure smooth subsequent travel.