Taiwanese high-speed train driver caught asleep at the wheel

[R44 5278]

(AFP) – 1 day ago

 

TAIPEI — A high-speed train driver in Taiwan has lost his job after being caught dozing off while travelling at nearly 300 kilometres (190 miles) an hour, media and officials said Monday.

 

The incident happened late last month when the train carrying hundreds of passengers was travelling on a stretch of line just south of Taichung city in the centre of the island, the Taipei-based Apple Daily newspaper reported.

 

"The driver had taken sleeping pills and was not fully conscious while on duty," Ted Chia, spokesman for the Taiwan High Speed Rail, told reporters.

 

Train controllers noticed that the driver did not appear to be touching the controls and immediately alerted the cabin crew, Chia said.

 

Using the train's automatic systems, they managed to take control of the train for about 13 minutes until it glided safely into Taichung station, according to the spokesman.

 

Taiwan's 345-kilometre (207-mile) high-speed system links the capital Taipei in the north with Kaohsiung city in the south using Japanese bullet-train technology.

 

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Looks like Taiwan doesn't know what a deadman switch is...

[St Louis Car 09]

Whats with Taiwan? First the Runaway bus on the highway, now this?

[MTR Admiralty]

If he was not well, he should not be at the controls, period. Thank God no severe accident happened as a result of this.

[NX Express]

If he was not well, he should not be at the controls, period. Thank God the train was not running when they found him aslept on the wheel, otherwise, disaster may have ensued.

 

The train was going at around 300 km/h.

 

Hmm...a deadman's at 300 km/h would be a bit of a problem.

[MTR Admiralty]

The train was going at around 300 km/h.

 

Hmm...a deadman's at 300 km/h would be a bit of a problem.

Revised. That's what happens when you skim over several lines in a second.

 

Theoretically yeah, however they were able to control the train from the operations centre such that there's no need for such braking.

[NX Express]

Theoretically yeah, however they were able to control the train from the operations centre such that there's no need for such braking.

Then is there a need for an operator in the first place?

[MTR Admiralty]

Then is there a need for an operator in the first place?

There has to be an operator on the train, first to be in control of the actual train and make sure himself that nothing is wrong. The operations centre monitors all trains on the tracks and it only takes action like that only when the operator fails to cooperate or such.

[NX Express]

There has to be an operator on the train, first to be in control of the actual train and make sure himself that nothing is wrong. The operations centre monitors all trains on the tracks and it only takes action like that only when the operator fails to cooperate or such.

 

I agree.

 

However, if the possibility of remote-control is there, and it was just used successfully, why not make Taiwan resemble the DC Metro (TO is there only for monitoring against malfunctions, control computer drives the train)?

[R44 5278]

As dangerous as it can potentially be to brake at 186mph, if the alerts never came about (or failled for whatever reason), then the train was 13 min from collison. Note that the Train Controller Alerts in the USA connect directly to the emergency brake.

[MTR Admiralty]

I agree.

 

However, if the possibility of remote-control is there, and it was just used successfully, why not make Taiwan resemble the DC Metro (TO is there only for monitoring against malfunctions, control computer drives the train)?

Bare in mind that the THR is a new HR system. And since trains run at really high speeds, they want someone to keep in check (manually) the train. There's no technology available to ensure that high speed trains can go at 300 kmph without derailing or such, or to even slow down such as to align properly with the station. The DC metro and other automated rapid transit systems don't go on such high speeds, and thus are able to be controlled. When technology comes to play that would allow computers to drive high speed trains, then we would see something different.