Typhoon Podul Disrupts Taiwan's Transportation Network

Rail and ferry services face significant cancellations and adjustments due to severe weather conditions.

Taiwan experienced widespread disruption to its rail and ferry services on Wednesday as Typhoon Podul brought strong winds and heavy rainfall across the island, particularly impacting southern regions.

The Taiwan Railway Corporation (TRC) announced the suspension of rail services on the Hualien-Taitung and South Link lines until at least 6 p.m. The typhoon's effects also necessitated schedule adjustments for trains operating on the main west coast line.

Specific service modifications included southbound express trains numbered 117 through 145 operating only as far as Changhua, with service between Changhua and Chaozhou suspended. Train number 385, scheduled from Taichung to Taitung, was canceled. Train number 511, traveling from the Greater Taipei area to the Kaohsiung area, was rerouted to terminate in Changhua. Other trains, including number 137 and 177, saw altered routes or operated as normal, depending on their specific schedules and destinations.

Further adjustments involved northbound express trains numbered 124 through 150, which were suspended between Chaozhou and Changhua. Train number 372, from Taitung to Taichung via Kaohsiung, was canceled. Train number 554, scheduled from Chaozhou to Hualien via Taipei, was rerouted to operate from Changhua to Hualien. Train number 136, from Chaozhou to Nangang, was adjusted to commence its journey from Taichung.

On branch lines, Shalun Line services, specifically trains numbered 3731 to 3734, were suspended. These announcements were made by the TRC based on the latest weather updates from the Central Weather Administration.

The Central Weather Administration indicated that eastern Taiwan and areas south of Chiayi were expected to experience showers or thunderstorms, with a possibility of heavy rain or localized extreme rainfall due to the typhoon and its outer bands. The likelihood of torrential rain was noted as particularly high in eastern and southeastern regions, as well as in the southern mountainous areas.

In addition to rail disruptions, the Maritime Port Bureau reported the cancellation of 129 journeys across 14 ferry routes. Affected routes included those connecting various islands and coastal cities, such as Keelung-Matsu, Kinmen-Shijing, Kaohsiung-Magong, Budai-Magong, and routes to Green Island and Lanyu (Orchid Island).