Taipei, Nov. 22 (CNA) Train services on the Yuli-Fuli section of the Eastern Trunk Line in Hualien County will return to normal on Dec. 28 after repairs to damage caused by earthquakes in September are completed, the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) said Monday.
The resumption of services between the two townships will come 20 days ahead of the previously anticipated date of Jan. 18, 2023, the state-run train operator said in a statement.
Train services between Hualien and Taitung had been suspended since Sept. 18 after a series of earthquakes -- the strongest one a magnitude 6.8 temblor -- damaged overhead power lines, tracks, several railway bridges and other equipment.
Services between the Hualien-Fenglin and Fuli-Taitung sections on the Eastern Trunk Line were subsequently returned to normal on Sept. 22, but other infrastructure between Yuli and Fuli were more seriously affected.
The Lele River Bridge in Yuli Township and the New Xiuguluan River Bridge in Fuli Township just north of Dongli Station in particular took a severe hit from the magnitude 6.8 quake and were among the main targets of the recent repairs, the TRA said.
Sections of the Fuli bridge's decks were displaced as a result of the quake, and it was repaired by jacking the decks up using hydraulic equipment and realigning them, the TRA said, noting that this method was being used for the first time to repair the railway in Taiwan.
According to the TRA, the final deck of the New Xiuguluan River Bridge was realigned on Nov. 19.
After the resumption of services, the railway agency said trains traveling on this bridge will initially be limited to a speed of 60 kilometers per hour as a safety precaution.
Reservations for the Taipei-Taitung services will be resumed from Nov. 30 for trains operating after Dec. 28, the TRA added.
