The Taiwan Railway Administration, in recent years, has pushed efforts to increase the capacity of the Republic of China rail system, as a part of the nation's fast economic development. However, the line capacity has already reached its saturation point and traffic volume cannot be increased without radical changes in operation. TRA is meeting the challenge with the electrification project which will expand greatly the transportation capacity of the existing lines and thus achieve the multiple purposes of economic development. This is one of the nation's ten major economic projects. After three-years' efforts of planning, an Electrification Unit was established July 1, 1974 to carry out the project. Track strengthening had already begun early in July of 1973. The site construction work was divided into three periods. It started in March of 1975 and is scheduled for completion in August of 1979. By that time 1,153 kms of rail lines from Keelung to Kaohsiung will fully be electrified. Up to last April, 43.77 per cent of construction work was completed.
The railroad electrification includes transforming Taiwan Power Co's 69KV power into 25KV as the motive power, replacing coal and oil of the existing lines. The program includes the purchase of electric locomotives, installation of overhead transmission systems, establishment of power sub-stations and remote control systems, improvement of signalling and communications equipment, track strengthening and the modification of tunnels. The completion of these works will greatly increase train speed. For example, an express train will make the Taipei-Taichung run in 2 hours and the trip to Kaohsiung in 4 hours. Fast freights will make the Kaohsiung trip in six hours. Because of the cut of running time by 10-20 per cent, the traffic volume will increase by 20-30 per cent. Half of the fuel cost will be saved and the maintenance charge for electric trains will be only one-third that of diesel locomotives. There also will be greater steadiness in travelling, no air pollution and less noise. The installation of automatic blocking systems will reduce man-made accidents and improve travelling safety. The economic benefit will be immense. The ideal of railroad electrification is to serve the people and match the development of society. From the point of view of social benefit, the contribution will be beyond measurement by figures.
Schematic diagram of electrification work
Model of a well-equipped train
Overbridge improvement at Taipei station
Installation of PC "sleepers"
Clearance work at No. 9 tunnel
Modification of tunnel at Nankang
