Excavator accident disrupts Taiwan Railway service in Miaoli

Taipei, June 18 (CNA) Rail service between Miaoli and Zhunan stations in Miaoli County was disrupted early Thursday after an excavator overturned onto the track during maintenance work, according to Taiwan Railway Corp. (TR).

Train traffic through the affected section is currently limited to a single track in both directions, resulting in delays of around 10 to 15 minutes, TR said in a statement.

A total of 30 train services have been affected, the company said, adding that repair work is underway and normal operations are expected to resume by 1 p.m.

Until then, 14 services have been adjusted, and all trains with reserved seating are making additional stops at Miaoli and Zhunan stations, it said. Standing tickets are also being made available for the reserved trains, TR said.

Passengers delayed by more than 45 minutes may apply for a full refund, without handling fees, at any Taiwan Railway ticket counter within one year of travel, the company said. Those who purchased tickets with credit cards should show both the card and ticket when applying for a refund, it advised.

The incident occurred at 4:23 a.m., when an excavator tipped over onto the railway tracks during maintenance work, according to TR. The excavator's bucket fell over a nearby bridge into a stand of trees below, it said.

At a legislative hearing on Thursday, Deputy Transport Minister Wu Sheng-yuan (伍勝園) said an emergency task force had been assembled to deal with the issue and help minimize disruptions.

The accident occurred during routine maintenance work, Wu said in response to lawmakers' questions about safety issues.

The maintenance workers were using a modified excavator arm to trim tree branches near overhead electrical lines, but the arm was extended too far, tipping the excavator off balance and causing it to overturn, Wu said.

Taiwan Railway usually suspends train operations whenever there are concerns about obstructions on the tracks and, if necessary, cuts power to the line, he said. Service would resume only after safety had been confirmed, he added.

Kuomintang Legislator Hung Mong-kai (洪孟楷) said, however, that the accident indicated flaws in the work methods, and he called for Taiwan Railway to review its procedures and submit an improvement report within one month.