Alishan Forest Railway reopens with new protective measures
Alishan Forest Railway reopens with new protective measures
2024-09-03
The Alishan Forest Railway is fully open, giving direct passage from Chiayi up to Alishan. There is a new safety system in place with two lines of defense, continuously monitoring the tracks and protecting trains from falling rocks and other dangers. After 15 years, the Forest Railway and its employees are ready to start again.
Travelers take pictures with the train as they arrive at Fenqihu, commemorating the reopening of the Alishan Forest Railway.
But with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and falling rocks, there is constant concern that the tracks will be damaged or obstructed.
Weng Hsing-chao
Train conductor
Whenever it rains, rocks and mud get on the tracks and we can’t keep going.
In areas prone to rockfalls, tires are piled up to form a protective wall. There are sensors in the tire walls to alert employees of any falling rocks.
Chuang Shu-ting
FTV reporter
This is the latest rockfall warning system. If large rocks hit this wall, an alarm goes off and an alert is sent to employees’ phones to inform them of the situation.
At first, animals or gusts of wind would also set off the alarm, so the sensitivity had to be reduced. But what happens if rocks fly over the tires and fall onto the tracks? Then the second line of defense comes into play: monitors above the tracks. Through this surveillance system, AI identifies any obstructions.
Wu Wei-jen
Fenqihu supervisor
If there are rocks, moving objects, or people on the tracks, the surveillance system will send a notice to our group using visuals and warnings.
Train drivers tested the railway many times before opening, putting rocks on the train to simulate the weight of passengers. As 15 years have passed since this section of the railway was used, new drivers have to become familiar with the route.
Wu Wei-jen
Fenqihu supervisor
They need to get used to the weight, inclines, and turns.
Maintenance technicians are also busy, heading to work in their helmets and reflective vests.
Chuang Shu-ting
FTV reporter
Wearing red vests, these maintenance technicians make sure the tracks are clear so that the train can travel smoothly. Let’s take the maintenance trolley with them to see what they do on their daily rounds starting at 5 a.m.
Checking the railway, they clear any debris that has intruded onto the tracks to prevent it from blocking or scratching the train.
Maintenance technician
Moisture or wind brings debris and even monkeys drop branches.
Using a pickaxe, they clear rocks and mud from the tracks and replace rotting railway sleepers.
Chen I-shao
Fenqihu director
It’s dangerous for the train to operate if the sleepers aren’t securely fastened to the tracks.
The Alishan Forest Railway is fully operational with an all-new system in place. Employees carefully perform their individual duties, making sure the train runs smoothly and ensuring the safety of passengers.
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阿里山林鐵全線通車 預防落石兩道防線曝光
2024-09-03
阿里山林鐵全線通車，嘉義已經可以直達阿里山，而鐵路的最新一套系統也曝光，在容易出現落石的地方，兩道防線做好做滿，即時掌握鐵道狀況，而鐵路工作人員也整裝待發，熟悉並檢查睽違15年的這段鐵路。
列車抵達奮起湖，遊客把握時間和小火車合影，現在阿里山林鐵已經全線通車。
行駛中最怕鐵道出問題，山區午後雷陣雨頻繁，若落石不慎掉落，可就麻煩了。
[[退休司機員 翁幸昭]]
“每一次下雨，石頭啦、泥巴啦，都衝到我們的鐵軌上，我們真的不敢過去啊”
在比較容易有落石的危險區域，軌道上有層層堆疊的輪胎來阻擋，其中還有感應線，即時掌握落石狀況。
[[民視記者 莊舒婷]]
“這個就是目前最新的落石預警系統，若是有巨大落石不小心掉落砸中的話，警報就可能會被觸發，並且傳送通知到工作人員的手機，讓大家知道有狀況”
只是山中動物會亂抓，有個風吹草動就警報大響，只好先降低系統敏感度，不過落石若飛越輪胎，掉到軌道上該怎麼辦？第二條防線在這裡，鐵軌上方有監視器，畫面若出現異常AI還能幫忙辨識。
[[奮起湖監工區監工長 吳瑋仁]]
“落石或是有移動物、遊客，鐵道邊坡影像監視系統它會將這個訊息，用影像的方式、用警告的方式，傳到我們的群組”
司機員在通車前密集測試，開著裝有石塊的車子，模擬乘客搭乘重量，畢竟時隔15年，新進司機總得熟悉沒開過的路線。
[[奮起湖監工區監工長 吳瑋仁]]
“載重的感受啊，或是爬坡啊，或是過彎啊”
道班工人員可也沒閒著，安全帽戴上，反光背心穿好，發動台車趕緊上工。
[[民視記者 莊舒婷]]
“要讓火車順利的在鐵軌上運行，不被障礙物所干擾，要靠的就是這一群穿著紅色衣服的道班工，讓我們搭著這台工作的小台車，來看一看他們早上五點鐘就開始的朝巡，要做什麼事情”
檢查鐵路的狀況，清除已經傾斜或入侵軌道的植物，避免阻擋或刮傷列車。
[[道班工]]
“水氣或者是風吹，或者甚至是猴子丟下來(樹枝)”
拿起鋤頭敲啊敲，撥開鐵道泥土與石頭騰出空間，抽換腐爛枕木。
[[奮起湖監工區工務長 陳益紹]]
“鐵軌沒有(枕木)扣壓緊的話它就可能會比較分開，火車行駛上會有危險”
阿里山林鐵全線通車，全新系統通通就定位，工作人員各司其職，每一個小步驟都不馬虎，讓列車得以順利運行，為旅客安全層層把關。
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