Ministry to probe procurement of trains

DEADLY ERROR? Nippon Sharyo found a design flaw in the Puyuma Express trains it sold to Taiwan that stops the alert system from being able to contact the control station

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 03, 2018
By: Su Fun-her and Jake Chung  /  Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNA

Minister of Transportation and Communications Wu Hong-mo (吳宏謀) yesterday said that

Democratic Progressive Party legislators Hsiao Bi-khim, left, and Liu Chao-hao listen during a joint news conference in Taipei yesterday held to probe how the automatic train protection system purchased by the Taiwan Railway Agency was able to pass an inspection in 2013.  Photo: Fang Bin-chao, Taipei Times

the ministry would investigate the Taiwan Railways Administration’s (TRA) procurement and evaluation process and whether it could seek compensation from the Japanese manufacturer of a train that derailed last month.

The remarks came after the TRA on Thursday said it had asked the company, Nippon Sharyo, to explain a design flaw in all 19 Puyuma trains it sold to Taiwan.

Puyuma Express No. 6432 derailed on Oct. 21, killing 18 people and injuring 215.

If the company finds that the flaw can be fixed immediately, the ministry will ask for improvements and related system upgrades at once, Wu added.    [FULL  STORY]

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