Train service has finally resumed on a section of railway between Ruifang and Houtong in northern Taiwan. That’s after more than 1,000 workers labored for ten days straight to remove the debris from a landslide that took place on December 4.
It’s December 14, 2020, 5:18 AM. Transportation Minister Lin Chia-lung watches as a train enters Houtong station. Minister Lin doesn’t usually monitor the comings and goings of trains, he’s generally got better things to do. But, this particular train’s passage was only possible because of the tireless efforts of a thousand people… literally.
Just ten days ago, a massive landslide blocked a section of track between Ruifang and Houtong stations in New Taipei City. A crew of 1,083 people worked shifts around-the-clock toiling for 10 straight days in the rain. They removed around 10,000 cubic meters of debris. Builders have also reinforced the side of the collapsed mountains, but experts say there’s still a threat of another landslide. That means the railway administration will have to monitor the area 24-7.
Trains will run in both directions on a single-track. But Minister Lin says that work will continue until everything is completely safe.