Rail, ferry services suspended due to Typhoon Podul (update)

Taipei, Aug. 13 (CNA) Typhoon Podul disrupted rail and ferry transportation in Taiwan on Wednesday as it brought powerful winds and heavy rain to much of southern Taiwan.

Rail services on the Hualien-Taitung line along Taiwan's east coast and South Link line (Kaohsiung's Xinzuoying-Taitung) across southern Taiwan were suspended for the day due to the effects of the typhoon, according to Taiwan Railway Corp. (TRC).

In addition, local express trains on the West Coast Line between Chiayi and Pingtung's Fengliao were suspended from 3 p.m., while adjustments were also made to the schedule of trains along the main west coast line, the company said.

The adjustments include southbound express trains No. 117 through No. 145 which will run only as far as Changhua, with service between Changhua and Chaozhou suspended.

Train No. 385 from Taichung to Taitung was canceled, train No. 511 from the Greater Taipei area to the Kaohsiung area will run to Changhua only, train No. 137 will run to Taichung, and train No. 177 from Hualien to Dounan in Yunlin County via Taipei will operate as normal.

Train No. 477, starting in Taitung and heading north on the east coast before heading down the west coast to Yuanlin in Changhua County, will operate from Hualien to Yuanlin, while train No. 283 will suspend service to its first three stations and run from Hualien to Douliu.

Northbound express trains No. 124 through No. 150 will be suspended between Chaozhou and Changhua. Train No. 372 from Taitung to Taichung via Kaohsiung was canceled, while train No. 554 from Chaozhou to Hualien via Taipei will operate from Changhua to Hualien.

Train No. 136 from Chaozhou to Nangang will start in Taichung.

In terms of the branch lines, Shalun Line services from train No. 3731 to 3734 onward were suspended.

TRC made the announcement in a statement detailing the status of its trains before 6 p.m., basing its assessment on the latest weather updates from the Central Weather Administration.

According to the weather agency, due to the effects of the typhoon and its outer rim, eastern Taiwan and areas south of Chiayi are expected to see showers or thunderstorms Wednesday, with a chance of heavy rain or localized extreme rainfall.

The probability of localized torrential rain is particularly high in the east and southeast as well as mountainous areas in the south.

Also Wednesday, the Maritime Port Bureau said 129 journeys on 14 routes were canceled.

The affected routes are Keelung-Matsu, Nangan-Langqi (Fujian), Beigan-Huangqi (Fuzhou), Kinmen-Shijing (Quanzhou), Kinmen-Wutong Ferry Terminal (Xiamen), Kaohsiung-Magong, Budai-Magong, Magong-Wangan Township-Qimei Township, Jiangjun (Tainan)-Dongji Island, Dongang-Xiaoliuqiu, Yanpu-Xiaoliuqiu, Fugang-Green Island, Fugang-Lanyu (Orchid Island) and Houbihu-Lanyu.