Taiwan Remembers Taroko Tragedy: Concert and Lights of Hope

A Memorial Concert and Light Installation to Commemorate the 2021 Taroko Express Train Derailment Victims

Taipei, Taiwan – In a poignant act of remembrance, a public memorial concert will be held at Taipei Main Station at 7 p.m. on April 2nd to honor the victims of the 2021 Hualien Taroko Express train derailment, known locally as the "0402 accident."

Chen Meng-hsiu (陳孟秀), an attorney representing the victims' families, announced that the concert marks the fourth anniversary of the devastating rail accident, which claimed 49 lives and injured 309, marking it as the deadliest in the Taiwan Railway Co.'s history.

This year's memorial, themed "Eternal Love and Remembrance," will feature a unique light beam installation designed to symbolize hope and resilience.

The light beams will shine through the Heren, Qingshui, and Chongde tunnels along the North-Link Line, a vital railway route connecting Su'ao and Hualien City, adding a touching visual component to the memorial.

The tragic 2021 crash occurred at the northern entrance to the Qingshui Tunnel, a location forever etched in the nation's memory.

Chen emphasized that the light installation, inspired by similar tributes to the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States in 2001 and the Amagasaki derailment in Japan in 2005, aims to transform the families' grief into "eternal love" and serve as a constant reminder of the importance of railway safety.

Taiwan Railways official Chien Hsin-li (簡信立) confirmed that the lights will be activated as Taroko Express train 408 – the train with the same serial number as the one that derailed – passes through the area on April 2nd.

The light effects will continue for seven days as part of the memorial tribute, he added.

Chien further assured that the light installation has been designed to ensure the safety of passengers and staff, and it will not interfere with the train driver's ability to see.

In addition to the concert, Taiwan Railways will distribute information cards about the memorial on all trains along the North-Link Line, according to Chien.

The public is warmly invited to attend the concert as a gesture of solidarity and remembrance, Chien added.