It’s been ten months since a fatal stabbing aboard a train in southern Taiwan thrust the issue of safety aboard Taiwan’s trains into the spotlight.
Since then, Taiwan’s high speed rail company has decided to beef up security aboard its trains with the help of an elite band of security guards.
To the average passenger, the new security guards set to start patrolling Taiwan’s high speed rail line look completely ordinary. Sure, they have special protective gear, but given their job, that’s not too unusual.
What most likely won’t realize, though, is that these are not your typical security guards. Many have served in elite military or police units. And all are masters of the martial arts.
Taiwan is generally a safe place, and hopefully, passengers won’t need to see this special set of skills put to use. But train operators in Taiwan have felt the need to beef up security for some time. In July last year, railway police officer Lee Cheng-han was fatally stabbed while trying to subdue a knife-wielding passenger.
Railway police have seen been given pepper spray and bulletproof vests, and the state railway company will be giving conductors pepper spray starting this week. With its new squadron of elite guards, the high speed rail is set to take things even further. In addition to protective gear, each guard will have access to special tools for subduing violent passengers.
The high speed rail company is not divulging how many guards are set to join its team. The only thing passengers need to know is that they are safe.