Moderate typhoon Qiangpi is approaching, and the high-speed rail trains are almost full from this afternoon to tomorrow morning. Transportation Minister Chen Shikai said that due to the "typhoon coupled with consecutive holidays" this time, people have begun to return home early. Starting from 6:25 tonight, the High-Speed Rail Company will operate 5 additional southbound free-seat trains departing from Taipei Station and stopping at various stations along the way. The Taiwan Railways will operate 2 additional trains each on the East and West Main Lines.
Typhoon Qiangbi continues to approach Taiwan. The Central Meteorological Administration has issued onshore typhoon warnings for Yilan, Hualien, Taitung, Taichung, Nantou, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung. The land police scope will be expanded to the entire island as soon as this evening. The wind circle of Typhoon Qiangbi is expected to hit land early tomorrow morning.
Chen Shikai said that the typhoon this time was fierce, and there was a situation of "typhoon plus consecutive holidays". Different from the past simple transportation with consecutive holidays, the high-speed rail reservations are almost fully booked from this afternoon to tomorrow morning. Six additional free-seat trains departing from Taipei Station have been urgently operated from 6:25 pm today. Currently, all 34 high-speed rail trains, except one train, are under overhaul, are now on line to assist in transportation.
In addition, Chen Shikai pointed out that this typhoon has a greater impact on northern and eastern Taiwan. Considering that there may be changes in the transportation of the Eastern Main Line of the Taiwan Railway tomorrow, two additional trains on the Eastern Main Line will be operated today for transportation. People who need to go from the east to the west can move early this afternoon.
Chen Shikai said that in order to help the high-speed rail transport, Taiwan Railway will also open the Western Main Line EMU3000 Ziqiang train without seat tickets starting from 5 o'clock tonight, and operate two additional Western Main Line trains. He called on the public to take the Taiwan Railway when the high-speed rail is too crowded. There is still sufficient capacity to help people move.
As for the storm that will hit the north tomorrow, Chen Shikai said that the Eastern Main Line of Taiwan Railway, especially Taipei to Yilan and Yilan to Hualien, are at greater risk due to weather conditions. The Ministry of Transportation has asked the Highway Bureau to activate highway contingency measures. If there are conditions on the Eastern Main Line of Taiwan Railway, additional national highway passenger transport can be opened to connect people to and from Taipei and Yilan.
Chen Shikai also called on people to avoid moving through the northern coastal highway due to the typhoon hitting northern and eastern Taiwan this time, and strong winds and waves along the coast. If necessary, they can drive National Highway No. 5, and give priority to public transport such as national highway passenger transport.
Starting from 6:25 pm today, the High Speed Rail Corporation will operate 5 more southbound trains departing from Taipei Station. All trains will have free seats (except business class cars) and will stop at various stations along the way. Details are as follows:
Buses 1 and 4 run from Taipei Station to Zuoying Station. The departure times from Taipei Station are 18:25, 19:25, 20:36, and 21:20.
2. Flight 1 runs from Taipei Station to Taichung Station. The departure time from Taipei Station is 22:50.
In response to the issuance of the land warning for Typhoon Qiangbi, based on the latest meteorological information from the Central Meteorological Administration, the Taiwan Railway's additional train operation information is as follows:
1. Western Main Line:
(1) 5435 times seven traffic = Taichung EMU900 regional express train (departure at 20:24 in Taipei)
(2) 5165 times seven traffic = Changhua PP Ziqiang (departure at 21:08 in Taipei)
2. Eastern Main Line:
(1) 5266 times Shulin = Taitung EMU3000 Ziqiang (Taipei starts at 21:02)
(2) 5265 Taitung = Shulin EMU3000 Ziqiang (Taitung starts at 20:36)
