Person Struck by Train; 600 Passengers Affected

A tragic incident at the Tangrong Level Crossing in Hsinchu County disrupted rail service on Sunday evening when a person was struck by a Taroko Express train. The collision occurred at approximately 6:30 PM, with emergency services responding to the scene within minutes. Approximately 600 passengers were aboard the affected train, which came to an emergency stop following the impact. No passengers or crew members were reported injured aboard the train itself.

The Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) initiated its emergency response protocols, dispatching replacement transportation and working to transfer passengers to alternative services. The train was held at the scene while investigators from the railway police and the TRA conducted their examination of the level crossing, reviewing signal records and security camera footage to determine the circumstances leading to the collision.

Service was restored on the affected section of the Western Trunk Line after approximately two hours, though cascading delays affected subsequent trains through the evening. The Tangrong Level Crossing, like many rail crossings in Taiwan, has been the subject of periodic safety reviews as the TRA continues its long-term campaign to eliminate at-grade crossings on high-speed sections of the network. The incident underscores the persistent safety challenges facing Taiwan's rail infrastructure, even as major investments in modernization and grade separation projects continue across the island.