Taichung MRT Conducts First In-House Track Replacement, Saving Costs and Building Technical Expertise

Central News Agency, Taichung, May 22. As the Taichung MRT Green Line celebrates its 5th anniversary, the Taichung MRT Corporation recently conducted its first independent track replacement operation, completing a 316-meter track replacement project at the Beitun Depot. This not only effectively saves on outsourcing maintenance costs but also successfully accumulates critical track maintenance technical energy.

Taichung MRT Corporation released a press release today stating that MRT trains run at high frequency every day, and the steel rails are subjected to long-term friction from train wheel axles, which easily leads to "lateral wear." This is especially true in sections within the depot with smaller turning radii, where the lateral pressure on the rails is even greater.

The maintenance team conducts regular track inspections and maintenance. When rail wear reaches the maintenance standard, it must be replaced to reduce the potential risk of train derailment. Taichung MRT Corporation recently conducted its first independent track replacement operation, with the maintenance team executing the entire process, completing the 316-meter track replacement project at the Beitun Depot and successfully completing the high-precision track maintenance task.

Taichung MRT Corporation explained that the track replacement project is a high-difficulty, high-precision operation. During construction, the old rails must be cut with oxy-gas flames, then the new rails must be hoisted and positioned, and repeatedly measured and calibrated to align accurately to the millimeter level. Subsequently, the "aluminothermic welding" method is adopted, where a mold is set at the joint and molten steel at temperatures exceeding 2000 degrees Celsius is injected to complete the welding. After cooling and removing the mold, a smooth, seamless track is formed.

Taichung MRT Corporation stated that the scope of this track replacement covers the turning sections of the Beitun Depot, including 58 meters of the main line and 258 meters of the depot section, which is an important area for trains to leave the depot for operation every day. The successful completion of this first in-house track replacement task not only effectively saves on outsourcing maintenance costs but also successfully accumulates critical track maintenance technical energy, further enhancing independent maintenance capabilities and laying a more solid foundation for the long-term stability and safe operation of the MRT system.