Taiwan Railways' Eastern Disaster Prevention Projects Severely Delayed Amid Budget Standoff

Disaster prevention projects crucial for the safety of Taiwan's eastern railway lines are significantly delayed, with a NT$7.8 billion plan to reinforce vulnerable sections facing a major setback. Heavy rains have already impacted eastern Taiwan, and the potential arrival of Typhoon Saudel has heightened concerns about the safety of rail and road transport.

The "Taiwan Railways Administration Eastern Taiwan and South-Link Section Railway Facility Safety Improvement Plan" aims to bolster the most fragile parts of the railway, especially the segment between Hualien's Hualien and Chongde stations. The plan includes constructing three protective tunnels, relocating Chongde Station, and implementing slope protection and bridge retrofitting measures. These upgrades are intended to greatly enhance the safety and reliability of train services for residents of Hualien and Taitung counties traveling to the north.

“

Because the total budget was not passed before, construction could not begin, and we could only use the railway's funds for the detailed engineering design. The actual start of construction has been delayed.

However, the project's progress was stalled because the national budget, which includes funding for these improvements, was not passed by the legislature until mid-August. This delay has pushed back the start of construction. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications confirmed that initial detailed design work could only proceed using the railway's own funds due to the budget impasse. Now that the budget has passed, the ministry is urging the railway administration to expedite the work, with a target completion date of 2031.

Concerns remain about future funding, as the railway administration plans to add physical barriers and early warning systems at 23 high-risk locations nationwide next year. They worry that the budget review process could again lead to delays, potentially jeopardizing train safety in the event of extreme weather or seismic activity. The administration is also installing rockfall detection systems and external object intrusion warning systems at 26 locations prone to rockfalls and geological instability, with many already operational or slated for activation next year. The delays in the Hualien-Chongde section's improvement project, in particular, are seen as a serious threat to the safety of eastern residents.

“

Now that the total budget has passed, we will ask the railway administration to speed up construction as much as possible and complete it by the scheduled 2031.