TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan Railway Corporation (台鐵公司), the island's primary rail service provider, announced on Tuesday (April 1) that it will deploy two additional EMU 3000 high-speed trains this weekend to handle the surge in passenger traffic expected during the upcoming four-day Tomb Sweeping Day holiday. The annual festival, a significant cultural tradition when families visit ancestral graves, begins Thursday and typically triggers one of Taiwan's busiest travel periods of the year.
Tickets for the supplementary train services will become available at midnight through multiple booking channels, including the corporation's website, mobile application, convenience store kiosks, and telephone reservation system. Officials emphasized that this multi-faceted approach to expanding service aims to maintain both passenger safety and service quality during the high-volume holiday period.
Also, the Maritime Port Bureau (航港局), Taiwan's regulatory authority for sea transportation, has proactively conducted comprehensive joint inspections from March 24-26 to verify the safety standards and service quality of maritime passenger operations ahead of the holiday rush. These rigorous inspections encompassed 51 passenger vessels and their corresponding terminal facilities, with inspectors paying particular attention to critical safety protocols such as proper life jacket demonstration procedures and the functionality of onboard fire alarm systems.
Officials from the bureau have emphasized a zero-tolerance policy for safety deficiencies, mandating that any issues identified during inspections must be remedied immediately and subjected to follow-up verification before vessels receive clearance to operate. In anticipation of potential holiday travel disruptions, the bureau has directed all maritime operators to establish clear communication systems, including prominent announcements at terminal buildings and utilization of various multimedia platforms to keep travelers informed about any weather-related service changes or unexpected circumstances that might affect scheduled sailings.
