Mayor apologizes again for MRT problems

A computer malfunction caused a power system failure that paralyzed the new MRT Neihu-Muzha line last Friday. Over 700 people on the stalled trains had to walk along the tracks back to the stations to be evacuated. The TRTC dispatched shuttle buses to pick up frustrated passengers, causing massive traffic jam as people were leaving from work.

Hau said yesterday that despite the Neihu-Muzha line being basically an integration of two different systems and is prone to system glitches at the beginning, the breakdown of a whole line is unacceptable both to the public and to him personally.

Asked if the TRTC will offer discounts for Neihu line passengers, Hau said that the first priority now is to maintain the stability of the system. He demanded the TRTC to study related compensation measures.

Hau was especially sorry for the passengers who had to walk on the tracks. The mayor witnessed from the command center a 70-year-old passenger and a mother holding her child's hand among those who had to experience the dangerous evacuation.

The city government will shoulder all responsibilities for any flaw after the opening of the Neihu line, he stressed. He required the city government to “regard citizens as family” to avoid similar problems in the future. He also asked related authorities to increase system checks as well as dispatching additional personnel on the trains to ensure the safety of the public.

The MRT was again plunged by malfunctions yesterday morning as a broken power cable in Fuzhong station of the Banciao line caused a delay of the trains.

The problem, which occurred at 6:03 a.m., caused the closing of one of the station's two tracks. Trains traveling in both directions on the Banciao line had to share the same track from Jianzicui station to Far East Hospital Station, resulting in a delay of 15 minutes per train at the early morning. The trouble was solved at 6:56 a.m. and both tracks were operational by 7:03 a.m.

The TRTC was still investigating why the power cable casing broke and whether it is related to the 6.3 earthquake that shook Taiwan yesterday.

Meanwhile, the mayor called for Bomdardier Inc., the Canadian company responsible for the construction of the Neihu line, to send the best team of senior engineers led by at least a vice general manager to Taiwan to help solve the problems. The handling of the current incident will be taken into consideration for Taipei City's future cooperation with the company.

A Bomdardier engineer is in Taiwan currently but only for routine contractual work.

In a separated story, opposition city councilors criticized the city government for treating the citizens as genie pigs by prematurely opening the Neihu line and required the TRTC to issue refunds in accordance with the Fair Law and Protection Law for Consumer and provide free service on the Neihu line for a month.

The DPP councilors also called for full subsidies to install airtight windows for residents alone the line who are affected by the excessive noise of the trains.

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