Taichung Metro Green Line interrupts test operation due to vehicle trouble

Taichung MRT announced that a vehicle trouble will occur on Saturday, November 21, 2020 on the Green Line (台中捷運緑線) during test run, and the operation will be suspended until the problem is resolved. The Taichung MRT Green Line, the first urban railway in central Taiwan, has been in test operation since Monday, November 16, 2020, while being open to passengers.

Taichung Metro Green Line interrupts test operation due to vehicle trouble
Taichung Metro Green Line interrupts test operation due to vehicle trouble

According to the Taichung City Government’s announcement and local media reports, at 12:12 pm on November 21, a vehicle entering the tail track of HSR Taichung Station (119: 高鐵臺中站, Taichung City) detected an abnormality. After the end of operation on that day, Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan, which manufactured the vehicle, also participated and inspected the vehicle, and found that the shaft of the “semi-permanent coupler” was damaged that connects the vehicles.

Kawasaki said that it is the first case of an anomaly like this. In cooperation with Taichung Metro, they will inspect all vehicles in the near future, not just the ones that have problems. The test operation will be suspended until safety is proven.

At this time, the official opening schedule for Saturday, December 19, 2020 has not changed.