TRA Invests NT$9.9 Billion to Enhance Track Safety, Expects to Reduce Delays by 30%
Taiwan Railway Corporation will invest NT$9.9 billion to fully mechanize track maintenance by purchasing 68 engineering vehicles, a move expected to reduce train delays by 30% and save 396 personnel by 2028.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 18:56
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 19:02 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 21:04 (2h 2m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Huang Chiao-wen, Taipei, 24th) The Executive Yuan has approved a NT$9.9 billion track structural safety enhancement plan. The Taiwan Railway Corporation (TRA) stated today that it will strengthen overall railway structural integrity and implement mechanized track maintenance by procuring 68 maintenance engineering vehicles. The project is estimated to be completed by the end of 2028, saving 396 personnel and reducing passenger delay times by 30%.
TRA's "Track Structural Safety Enhancement Plan" received approval from the Executive Yuan with a budget of approximately NT$9.9 billion. Chu Wo-fan, Deputy Director of the TRA Public Works Department, announced at a press conference today that the plan will bolster overall railway structural strength, implement mechanized track maintenance, upgrade road maintenance machinery, and replace obsolete equipment.
Among this budget, NT$4.045 billion is allocated for upgrading maintenance machinery, which includes procuring a total of 68 maintenance engineering vehicles. The remaining funds will cover steel rails, ballast materials, and labor costs for replacement.
Chu Wo-fan pointed out that TRA's operational routes span the entire country. With increasingly dense train schedules and higher operating speeds, although TRA has continuously promoted the adoption of PC sleepers and heavy rails, a large number of wooden sleeper turnouts are still in use. This causes maintenance difficulties and increases the burden of maintenance operations and costs, especially in remote sections.
Considering that most of the existing track maintenance machinery has been in use for over 20 years, with aging equipment and high failure rates, Chu stated that there is an urgent need to increase the number of various vehicles to meet the requirements of comprehensive mechanized operations. Therefore, 68 maintenance engineering vehicles will be procured.
Regarding the large and medium tamping machines, ballast regulating machines, and dynamic track stabilizers, Chu mentioned that they will be delivered in 7 batches, with procurement progress accelerated for an early completion by 2026.
Other procurements include 20 railway engineering maintenance vehicles, to be delivered in two batches and completed in 2028, and 7 sets of track panel transporters, delivered in two batches, which will all be fully delivered by 2025.
Through this plan, Chu noted that TRA expects to save 396 maintenance personnel annually and improve passenger delay times by 30%. The newly purchased maintenance machinery will be distributed evenly among various public works sections to maximize route maintenance efficiency.
Chu emphasized that replacing over-aged and obsolete equipment will not only reduce failure rates and boost track maintenance efficiency but also improve track quality to ensure operational safety. Concurrently, it will lower exhaust emissions and noise levels during maintenance operations. In the future, TRA will continue driving the transformation of track gang operations by increasing the number of medium and large tamping machines and engineering maintenance vehicles, gradually replacing manual track maintenance. With full mechanization as the ultimate goal, TRA aims to fortify route stability and provide passengers with a safer and more comfortable riding environment. (Editor: Li Shu-hua) 1150424
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(CNA Reporter Huang Chiao-wen, Taipei, 24th) The Executive Yuan has approved a NT$9.9 billion track structural safety enhancement plan. The Taiwan Railway Corporation (TRA) stated today that it will strengthen overall railway structural integrity and implement mechanized track maintenance by procuring 68 maintenance engineering vehicles. The project is estimated to be completed by the end of 2028, saving 396 personnel and reducing passenger delay times by 30%.
TRA's "Track Structural Safety Enhancement Plan" received approval from the Executive Yuan with a budget of approximately NT$9.9 billion. Chu Wo-fan, Deputy Director of the TRA Public Works Department, announced at a press conference today that the plan will bolster overall railway structural strength, implement mechanized track maintenance, upgrade road maintenance machinery, and replace obsolete equipment.
Among this budget, NT$4.045 billion is allocated for upgrading maintenance machinery, which includes procuring a total of 68 maintenance engineering vehicles. The remaining funds will cover steel rails, ballast materials, and labor costs for replacement.
Chu Wo-fan pointed out that TRA's operational routes span the entire country. With increasingly dense train schedules and higher operating speeds, although TRA has continuously promoted the adoption of PC sleepers and heavy rails, a large number of wooden sleeper turnouts are still in use. This causes maintenance difficulties and increases the burden of maintenance operations and costs, especially in remote sections.
Considering that most of the existing track maintenance machinery has been in use for over 20 years, with aging equipment and high failure rates, Chu stated that there is an urgent need to increase the number of various vehicles to meet the requirements of comprehensive mechanized operations. Therefore, 68 maintenance engineering vehicles will be procured.
Regarding the large and medium tamping machines, ballast regulating machines, and dynamic track stabilizers, Chu mentioned that they will be delivered in 7 batches, with procurement progress accelerated for an early completion by 2026.
Other procurements include 20 railway engineering maintenance vehicles, to be delivered in two batches and completed in 2028, and 7 sets of track panel transporters, delivered in two batches, which will all be fully delivered by 2025.
Through this plan, Chu noted that TRA expects to save 396 maintenance personnel annually and improve passenger delay times by 30%. The newly purchased maintenance machinery will be distributed evenly among various public works sections to maximize route maintenance efficiency.
Chu emphasized that replacing over-aged and obsolete equipment will not only reduce failure rates and boost track maintenance efficiency but also improve track quality to ensure operational safety. Concurrently, it will lower exhaust emissions and noise levels during maintenance operations. In the future, TRA will continue driving the transformation of track gang operations by increasing the number of medium and large tamping machines and engineering maintenance vehicles, gradually replacing manual track maintenance. With full mechanization as the ultimate goal, TRA aims to fortify route stability and provide passengers with a safer and more comfortable riding environment. (Editor: Li Shu-hua) 1150424
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The text, images, and audio/video of this website may not be reproduced, broadcast publicly, or transmitted and utilized publicly without authorization.