Taiwan Railway, THSRC adjust train services as tropical storm approaches

Taipei, Nov. 12 (CNA) Taiwan's two major rail operators -- Taiwan Railway Corp. and Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. (THSRC) -- have announced major schedule adjustments as Tropical Storm Fung-Wong brought heavy rain to northeastern Taiwan on Wednesday.

The THSRC announced that beginning 6 a.m. Wednesday, it would operate only three trains per hour in both directions between Nangang and Zuoying, the line's two terminal points.

The trains will only have unreserved seats, except for in business class, where seats still have to be reserved.

They will stop at all 12 stations and depart at the top of the hour, at 20 minutes past, and at 40 minutes past each hour, according to the high speed rail operator.

Begining Thursday, THSRC said it would add two extra all-unreserved trains in each direction from Taichung Station at 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.

Meanwhile, the last trains Thursday will depart from both Nangang and Zuoying at 9:40 p.m., arriving in Taichung at 10:40 p.m., according to the THSRC.

As for Taiwan Railway, it said Wednesday that it has suspended all express train services in eastern Taiwan between Shulin and Taitung from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday, along with all services on the South Link Line.

On the Western Main Line, express trains between Changhua and Chaozhou were canceled. Local and semi-express trains on both the east and west coasts were operating flexibly depending on weather conditions, according to the TRA.

Tropical Storm Fung-Wong is forecast to make landfall in southern Taiwan on Wednesday evening before moving back out to sea off Taitung County on Thursday, according to the Central Weather Administration.