TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Commuters faced an unexpected disruption Monday (April 14) morning when Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSR, 台灣高鐵公司), the island's premier rail service, launched an investigation after a northbound train failed to open its doors at a major transit hub. Train No. 204 arrived at Banqiao Station (板橋站) at 8:26 a.m. but departed without allowing passengers to exit, forcing travelers to continue to the terminal station in Taipei.
Frustrated travelers voiced their displeasure following the incident, with one commuter reporting a late arrival to work. Rail officials quickly implemented a recovery plan, allowing affected passengers to board the next southbound train back to Banqiao at no additional cost. THSR issued a formal apology for the disruption and confirmed that an internal review is underway to identify procedural failures and prevent similar incidents.
In its preliminary statement, THSR detailed the standard operating procedures that apparently broke down during the incident. Officials noted that trains typically pause for approximately one minute at Banqiao Station, with a specific protocol requiring drivers to verify complete stoppage before signaling conductors to open doors. The company's investigation will focus on potential communication breakdowns between crew members that may have contributed to the oversight. ★