Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/10/31
By: Wang Shu-fen and Ko Lin

Taipei, Oct. 31 (CNA) The Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) has filed a lawsuit against

Japanese firm Sumitomo Corp. and its affiliate in Taiwan seeking NT$611 million (US$20.05 million) in compensation for damage caused by a deadly train accident that took place last year.

In a statement issued Thursday, the TRA said the lawsuit was filed at the Taipei District Court against Sumitomo, which won the bid to supply the Puyuma tilting train fleet in 2011.

Puyuma Express train No. 6432 derailed Oct. 21, 2018 in Yilan County while heading to Taitung from New Taipei, leaving 18 passengers dead and 288 injured.

According to an investigation report released by the Executive Yuan a little more than one month after the accident, although there was mismanagement on the TRA's part, the accident was caused by design flaws in the train itself. Notably, these included the air compressor system, which was partly responsible for the crash after Sumitomo failed to fix it, despite having been previously notified of the issue.    [FUILL  STORY]