Transport services disrupted by storm

DOUBLE-CHECK: Mandarin Airlines said that it would adjust its schedule according to weather conditions, while high-speed rail services are to remain undisrupted

Airlines, ferry services, railways and national parks announced cancelations and closures yesterday, as Typhoon Champi bore down on Taiwan.

The Central Weather Administration yesterday issued land warnings for most of Taiwan proper, as Champi is forecast to come closest to the nation today.

Taiwan Railway Corp (TRC) has canceled all express trains on its western and eastern trunk lines today, while the high-speed rail system would continue to operate normally.

A man secures the mooring ropes of fishing boats at a harbor in Keelung yesterday as Typhoon Champi approaches.

Photo: I-Hwa Cheng, AFP

For non-reserved TRC services, trains on the Coast Line, Chengzhui Line, Yilan Line and North Link Line are fully suspended.

Services between Hualien and Taitung counties, as well as other unsuspended routes, would operate dynamically based on weather conditions, the TRC said.

The Alishan Forest Railway has also suspended its main line services between Chiayi and Alishan (阿里山) for today and tomorrow.

A woman takes pictures of the waves as Typhoon Champi approaches in Keelung yesterday.

Photo: I-Hwa Cheng, AFP

Conversely, the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp announced that all of its trains would run on their regular schedules today to meet passenger demand.

Maritime and aviation transport face widespread disruptions.

Ferry services between Kaohsiung’s Gushan (鼓山) and Cijin (旗津) districts were suspended at midnight last night, while ferries between Pingtung County and Siaoliouciou (小琉球) would be completely suspended tomorrow and on Sunday.

Staff prepare for Typhoon Champi at a forestry culture park in Hualien County yesterday.

Photo courtesy of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency’s Hualien Branch

Meanwhile, China Airlines and Tigerair Taiwan have canceled or rescheduled flights to and from Okinawa.

Mandarin Airlines and UNI Air have partially canceled domestic flights connecting Taiwan proper to Penghu, Kinmen and Lienchiang counties.

Mandarin Airlines said it would continue adjusting schedules according to weather conditions and urged passengers to check its Web site or app for updates.

Authorities also announced closures of forest recreation areas and tourist attractions.

Yushan National Park banned entry and activities from 11:30pm on Wednesday.

Yilan County’s Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area closed as a precaution from noon yesterday, and Gueishan Island (龜山島) is closed for three days from yesterday.

Forest recreation areas, forestry cultural parks and lowland forest parks in Hualien County closed from 1pm yesterday.

The North Dawu Mountain Trail, Jingu Valley Cabin, Kenting National Forest Recreation Area and Shuangliu National Forest Recreation Area in Pingtung County also closed from 1pm.

Alishan National Forest Recreation Area is to close from 8am today. The Alishan Forest Railway is also suspending services today, except for the Jhushan Line’s early-morning sunrise trains.

Aowanda and Hehuanshan national forest recreation areas, along with Tianchi Lodge on the Nenggao Cross-Ridge Historic Trail, are scheduled to close from today.