Japanese-Made Train Involved in Deadly Crash in Taiwan Again

Tokyo, April 2 (Jiji Press)--A train manufactured by Japan's Hitachi Ltd. <6501> derailed in eastern Taiwan on Friday, killing 50 people and injuring more than 140 others. The latest crash may remind people in Taiwan of a deadly accident in October 2018 involving a train produced by Nippon Sharyo Ltd. <7102>, also a Japanese company. On Friday morning, the eight-car train was carrying about 490 passengers on the way from New Taipei City to Taitung County on the first day of a four-day weekend, according to Taiwan Railways Administration. The train is believed to have been hit by a truck falling onto the railway tracks. From the crash, many of the train cars remain in a tunnel, making rescue work difficult. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has ordered a thorough investigation of the accident cause, as well as full rescue efforts. A Hitachi official said: "It's true that the train was made by Hitachi. But we're unaware of the cause of the accident, so I can't make comment." It took two years for Taiwan to release the final investigation report on the October 2018 crash, in which 18 people were killed and 291 were injured. Although that accident was found to have been linked to administrative issues, a damages lawsuit has been filed against the train maker, Nippon Sharyo. Hitachi supplied a total of 48 train cars to Taiwan in 2006-2007. In 2015, the firm received an order from Taiwanese authorities for 16 additional cars. END