Taiwan Railways Considers River Bridge Early Warning Systems Amid Eastern Flood Threats

Taiwan Railways is exploring the installation of early warning systems for bridges spanning rivers in its eastern network, a move prompted by recent flood-related damage and the threat of landslides. The railway administration is particularly examining a proposal to equip the Xinwanli Creek Bridge with water level gauges and sensors upstream.

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The Wanli Creek landslide lake incident in June this year has once again prompted Taiwan Railways to reconsider the early warning safety of railway operations over riverbeds.

This consideration comes after several incidents in eastern Taiwan's railway lines, including severe landslides and bridge damage, particularly after the April 3rd earthquake and strong typhoons. The most significant event occurred in July 2024 when Typhoon Kemi's heavy rains washed out a section of the railway bridge over Xiaochuishui Creek, causing prolonged disruptions to train services on the eastern main line.

More recently, in June, a landslide in Hualien formed a massive landslide lake on the Wanli River. The Xinwanli Creek Bridge is situated directly over this riverbed. Taiwan Railways Administration Deputy General Manager Liu Shuang-huo stated that this event has prompted a re-evaluation of safety measures for railway lines crossing riverbeds. The proposed system would involve installing water level gauges and sensors upstream to provide early alerts of potential risks, with the aim of detecting rising water levels and notifying relevant parties in advance.

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The concept is to install water level gauges upstream to provide early warning of risks, and add sensors. If the river water rises, it can be notified in advance.

Liu Shuang-huo noted that the exact implementation details, including the number and placement of these devices, require on-site assessments and engineering designs. As this is a new project requiring budget allocation, the administration is keen to avoid the kind of budget delays experienced this year, which could impede the timely deployment of these critical safety enhancements. The railway is also reviewing the safety of other bridges located over river systems.

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Because this is a new project budget, we do not want to see the situation of the total budget being delayed again.