Taiwan High Speed Rail Suffers Major Delays Due to Signaling Fault; Investigation Pending

Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) faced widespread disruptions on Monday, May 25, 2026, after a signaling system failure occurred in the Miaoli section early in the morning. The malfunction triggered the train's built-in safety protocols, halting operations on the affected route and leading to considerable delays throughout the day.

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The safety protection mechanism is primarily used when a signal in a certain section malfunctions. The train path that could have passed through that section is canceled to prevent two trains from colliding. Once the path is canceled, the train cannot operate through that section, and THSR must take emergency response measures manually.

In response to the disruption, THSR adjusted its operating schedule starting at 8 a.m. All scheduled trains were canceled, and a modified service was implemented. Trains now depart from both the Nangang (Taipei) and Zuoying (Kaohsiung) stations three times per hour, running as all-stop, non-reserved services, except for business class cars. Departures are timed for the top of the hour, 20 minutes past, and 40 minutes past.

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If a situation arises where it needs to be activated but is not, there could be more serious risks.

The government's Aviation Safety Council (ASC) confirmed it was notified of the signaling anomaly at 4:27 a.m. The ASC explained that the safety mechanism is designed to prevent collisions by preventing trains from entering a section with a faulty signal. While this mechanism is crucial for safety, the ASC noted that if the system fails to activate when needed, it could pose a more severe risk. The council stated it will monitor the repair progress and will launch a formal investigation if any safety concerns are identified.

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We will continue to monitor the repair situation. Once THSR clarifies the exact cause, if there are doubts about the safety protection mechanism involving safety issues, we will launch an investigation.