Two new diesel-powered locomotives procured by Taiwan Railway Corp (TRC) are powerful enough to transport the military’s M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) or 105mm artillery system, the state-run railway company said yesterday.
The nation’s largest railway operator highlighted its capability to transport military equipment following a recent meeting between TRC chairman Tu Wei (杜微) and All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency Transport Department Director Lee Shih-jie (李世傑).
Tu and Lee exchanged views on some technical issues, including expanding cargo-loading training and installing conveying equipment, bridge decks, improved caboose and new mobile terminal platforms.
Photo courtesy of Taiwan Railway Corp
The two agencies have set a preliminary schedule on the coordination and special task force meetings, TRC said.
“We have been trying to improve our transportation models and make the best plans by coordinating with the military and cargo dealers. TRC employees are to apply skills they learn from the training when transporting goods and military equipment,” Tu said.
“We have also prepared to meet the needs for transportation when the natural disasters hit,” he said.
The railway company has purchased two diesel-powered R200 locomotives, with testing to be completed this month, Tu added.
The two locomotives are scheduled to be in operation next month, he said.
“With their high horsepower, the locomotives would be able to increase the tonnage of cargo trains and reduce transportation time. The military palns to introduce M142 HIMARS or 105mm artillery systems, both of which are wheeled vehicles that can be transported by using TRC’s flat cars,” Tu said.
Separately, the railway police are searching for a passenger who on Friday deliberately pulled the conductor’s valve on the ninth car of a EMU3000 train causing it to automatically stop at Taitung’s Jinlun (金崙) Station.
To reduce the amount of delay, the railway boarded passengers to another train that arrived 26 minutes later, the TRC said, adding that the train was not damaged.
The train resumed operation after the valve was returned to its normal position, it said.
“We have reviewed the surveillance footage recorded at the ninth cabin and turned the evidence over to the Railway Police Bureau,” the company said.
TRC vice chairman Liu Shuang-huo (劉雙火) said the valve should be used in emergencies in which the conductor needs to stop the train immediately.
Pulling down the valve without any legitimate reason would cause the train to stop abruptly and passengers could be injured, he said.
There is a sign next to the valve warning people to not touch the device, he said.
Once caught, the passenger would not only be fined but face criminal punishment for endangering public safety, Liu added.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake and several aftershocks battered southern Taiwan early this morning, causing houses and roads to collapse and leaving dozens injured and 50 people isolated in their village. A total of 26 people were reported injured and sent to hospitals due to the earthquake as of late this morning, according to the latest Ministry of Health and Welfare figures. In Sising Village (西興) of Chiayi County's Dapu Township (大埔), the location of the quake's epicenter, severe damage was seen and roads entering the village were blocked, isolating about 50 villagers. Another eight people who were originally trapped inside buildings in Tainan
CLASH OF WORDS: While China’s foreign minister insisted the US play a constructive role with China, Rubio stressed Washington’s commitment to its allies in the region The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday affirmed and welcomed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio statements expressing the US’ “serious concern over China’s coercive actions against Taiwan” and aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, in a telephone call with his Chinese counterpart. The ministry in a news release yesterday also said that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had stated many fallacies about Taiwan in the call. “We solemnly emphasize again that our country and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other, and it has been an objective fact for a long time, as well as
‘ARMED GROUP’: Two defendants used Chinese funds to form the ‘Republic of China Taiwan Military Government,’ posing a threat to national security, prosecutors said A retired lieutenant general has been charged after using funds from China to recruit military personnel for an “armed” group that would assist invading Chinese forces, prosecutors said yesterday. The retired officer, Kao An-kuo (高安國), was among six people indicted for contravening the National Security Act (國家安全法), the High Prosecutors’ Office said in a statement. The group visited China multiple times, separately and together, from 2018 to last year, where they met Chinese military intelligence personnel for instructions and funding “to initiate and develop organizations for China,” prosecutors said. Their actions posed a “serious threat” to “national security and social stability,” the statement
NATURAL INTERRUPTION: As cables deteriorate, core wires snap in progression along the cable, which does not happen if they are hit by an anchor, an official said Chunghwa Telecom Co (中華電信) immediately switched to a microwave backup system to maintain communications between Taiwan proper and Lienchiang County (Matsu) after two undersea cables malfunctioned due to natural deterioration, the Ministry of Digital Affairs told an emergency news conference yesterday morning. Two submarine cables connecting Taiwan proper and the outlying county — the No. 2 and No. 3 Taiwan-Matsu cables — were disconnected early yesterday morning and on Wednesday last week respectively, the nation’s largest telecom said. “After receiving the report that the No. 2 cable had failed, the ministry asked Chunghwa Telecom to immediately activate a microwave backup system, with
RSS