Taipei Metro to install emergency stop buttons on 24 stations along Brown Line

Taipei Metro to install emergency stop buttons on 24 stations along Brown Line

2023-07-13

The Taipei MRT plans to install emergency stop buttons at 24 stations on the Brown Line as a safety measure. The move is in response to this May’s deadly accident on the Taichung Metro, in which a train crashed into a construction crane. Once all the buttons are installed, anyone who sees an emergency can quickly stop a train in its tracks. Misuse is punishable with a fine of NT$50,000.

Back in May, a crane boom fell on the Taichung Metro, resulting in a crash that killed one person and injured 10 others. To prevent similar incidents, the Taipei Metro will install emergency stop buttons on platforms along the Brown Line.

Wang Fu-min
FTV reporter
So that people to respond faster to emergencies like an object on the tracks, there will be no need to notify station staff – you can press the button immediately to stop the train.

Pressing the button will stop departing trains, as long as they have not fully left the platform. And it will also stop stationary trains, trains entering the platform, and approaching trains. The button overrides the platform gates’ safety checks, preventing trains from entering and leaving the station. But passengers say they’re not sure if they’d dare to press it.

Member of public
I think most people would be afraid to press it. Perhaps if the button isn’t too obvious, you might think you’ve misunderstood what it’s for. They should do some public education about this, because I wouldn’t even have known that they have these buttons now.

The emergency stop button was installed on Nanjing Fuxing Station on Wednesday and can be found on the platform gates at the height of Car 1 and Car 4. The metro hopes to install buttons at 24 Brown Line stations by year’s end. The buttons have a plastic cover with a notice warning that misuse can incur a fine of NT$50,000. The measure is reportedly also being considered for New Taipei’s Yellow Line.

Chen Chih-hui
Taipei Metro
Whether it’s the Yellow Line or the Taichung Metro, we are all in the same industry. So there’s a lot of communication among us. My understanding is that they will also make improvements.

The Taipei Metro is also trialing ways to increase train capacity at peak hours. In June, it removed all seats from two cars on three trains, leaving just priority seating. Reports say Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an considers the trial successful and hopes to increase the number of trains with the layout. But there’s opposition from councilors across party lines, who say that removing seats treats the symptoms and not the root of the problem.

Member of public
For example, you might have a leg injury, or you’re carrying a lot of things, or you have to ride for some time. So I think seats are necessary.

Taipei Metro says it will reassess the plan after the start of the school year. It says a final plan will not be drafted until after October.

北捷文湖線啟用「緊急停車鈕」四情境可用亂按罰5萬

2023-07-13

為了防止中捷的意外重演，北捷在自動駕駛的文湖線月台上，增設"緊急停車鈕"，昨天(12日)正式啟用，民眾只要碰上緊急事件，不用通知站務員就能直接按下，能阻止列車進、出站，避免意外發生，但民眾平時亂按會挨罰五萬。另外，日前為了增加運量，將文湖線部分座椅拆除，因成效不錯，開學後將再評估是否擴大。

今年五月，台中捷運發生，工地吊臂砸中軌道，釀成1死10傷的意外，為了避免事故重演，北捷特地在文湖線月台，增設"緊急停車按鈕"。

[[民視記者王富民]]
“為了縮短應變的時間，只要你發現軌道上有異物入侵，或其他緊急狀況，不用通知站務人員，都可以馬上按下停車鈕，讓列車停下”

按下停車鈕後，即便列車已經出發，只要還沒開出月台區，都會立刻停下，還有靜止列車，及進站中的行駛列車等四種情境都有效，能阻斷月台門的安全迴路，阻止列車進出站，但民眾似乎還不太熟悉該如何使用。

[[民眾]]
“大部分的人應該還是會害怕，如果東西不是很明顯，可能會怕自己看錯，應該可以宣導一下，不然其實我也不知道有這個東西”

停車鈕12號正式在南京復興站啟用，裝設在第一和第四節車廂月台門旁，預計年底前文湖線24站將全面設置，外頭有壓克力蓋板和封條避免誤觸，民眾如果亂按將開罰五萬，而傳出新北營運的環狀線也可能考慮跟進。

[[北捷系統處副處長陳智暉]]
“不論是環狀線還是中捷，因為是同業，我們彼此間有很多訊息溝通，初步掌握他們也會有改善措施”

另外為了提升尖峰時段運能，北捷六月開始，將馬特拉車款三台列車，兩節車廂的座椅全數拆除，只保留博愛座，傳出市長蔣萬安認為，試辦成效不錯有意再擴大，但藍綠民代都有反對聲浪，認為拆座椅治標不治本。

[[民眾]]
“像我現在腳受傷，然後東西拿比較多又要坐比較遠，所以我覺得需要(座位)”

北捷強調，開學後會再評估實際疏運狀況，最快10月後才會確定，未來的調整方案。

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Taiwan and Paraguay’s national flags are both red, white and blue. So the electric buses and coaches on display both have these three colors.

Santiago Pena
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We’re also looking forward to more Taiwanese investment in Paraguay and we are not only maintaining a good diplomatic relation, but we are sure that there are very good business and economic opportunities between Paraguay and Taiwan.

Speaking on his upcoming term, Pena said he came to Taiwan not only to meet government officials but also to connect with business leaders. He said he wants to bring Taiwan’s mature EV technology to Paraguay to support national development.

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This would absolutely be a long-term cooperative relationship that would deepen the friendship between the two countries. I think long-term industrial cooperation is the best way to promote diplomatic cooperation.

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Santiago Pena
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I am very confident, very confident. Yes I have no doubt. They will keep pressuring and we will keep maintaining our relation with Taiwan.

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Former President Ma Ying-jeou has gotten the green light to host Chinese students in Taiwan this month. A committee of immigration, education, and Chinese affairs officials approved Ma’s proposal earlier this week. But one day after approval, Ma’s office sent a request to invite three more people – faculty members of Peking University. Government sources say the request is unlikely to be approved. When asked about the matter, Ma’s office said it had not received a response from the government, and could not understand why the request would be denied.

Former President Ma Ying-jeou plans to host Chinese students in Taiwan this month. But after his exchange program was approved by Taiwan’s government, his office tried to invite three more people. The request has reportedly been denied by the Ministry of Education.

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Voice of Hsiao Hsu-tsen
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I haven’t received a response yet, so they’re choosing to communicate their decision through a leak. They should stop resorting to this anti-Chinese, Red Scare method of communication.

Most of the visiting students are members of the Communist Youth League. It’s rumored that China wished to send three additional faculty to monitor the students’ activities in Taiwan.

Voice of Hsiao Hsu-tsen
Ma Ying-jeou Foundation director
I think what happened is, the Tsai administration had initially said it would not approve our application. But now that the application is approved, the party we’re working with in China is feeling cautious, and it hopes to add three staff members. This request should be handled separately from our initial application. Taiwan’s government should not deny the request by pointing to precedent.

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Terry Gou
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Hou Yu-ih
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For our country’s security, improving our self-defense capabilities is a must. If our country has self-defense capabilities, we can protect our country.

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It may well reveal that the person has some chronic disease, such as diabetes. Of course, then the mortality rate after seven years would be higher than someone who can stand on one leg for 10 seconds.

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Stephany Yang
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Roller skating is making a comeback. Here at this new indoor roller skating rink, you can choose your favorite skates and glide under the neon lights.

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A friend brought me here today. I think it’s very fun. There are handrails so it’s super safe, and the staff members have been really kind to us. The overall design is high-tech.

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I have nothing to do at home during the summer vacation. So, it’s not a bad idea to go out to exercise. It’s also very beautiful and perfect for taking pictures and checking in on Instagram and creating memories.

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I used to do in-line skating. This kind of skating is more difficult. You have to get used to it. It’s different from in-line skating, but it’s still quite a fun experience. It’s very fun.

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