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| Teletypewriter Computerization |
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| Telegraph is an essential telecommunication tool to railway operation. Before Taiwan was recovered, every station was equipped with a Morse telegraph machine. All station staff had to receive telegraph operational training before they could work. |
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| In 1952, the Taiwan Railway Administration invented the Chinese telegraph. Alt hou gh the Morse machine was still essential and the sending and receiving remained manually operated. It eliminated the procedure of translation. |
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| Based on the structure of the English telegraph machine, the TRA collaborated with Japanese manufacturers in designing a Chinese telegraph machine in 1961. Twenty four of these machines were employed on the major telegraph lines, and the function proved to be very effective. By 1962, 55 more units were brought in to replace the Morse units, launching the Taiwan Railway Administration into a typing telegraph epoch. |
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| As the Chinese typing telegraph machine was designed by the TRA for a particular function, its structure differed from the internationally applied English typing model, which meant that its market was very limited. Consequently, this machine is now no longer in production, making it impossible for TRA to have any procurement or maintenance. To solve the problem, advanced fax machines were purchased in 1979 and installed at Nangang Passenger Transport Yard and Changhua. Later, in coordination with the 2 expansion projects of the North Link and Eastern Line railway, another lot was purchased. This system incorporated the Eastern Line into the main fax telecommunications system. |
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| In 1985 during the dual track railway expansion in Yilan, the Taiwan Railway Administration collaborated with domestic manufacturers in developing 16 units of computer operated Chinese telegraph machines. These machines were installed on the line between Taipei and Hualien, launching the TRA into the computer era. This new invention is economical and rather efficient in speed and function. The future plan is to replace the old Japanese made machines with this new computer model during the construction of the Mountain Line Dual Track Project and South Link Project to enhance overall efficiency. |
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| Facsimile |
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| In order to minimize manpower, maximize telegraphic communication efficiency and ensure railway transport safety, all typing telegraphic machines were to be replaced. |
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| In 1990, the first phase of setting up 109 Facsimile machines was successfully completed. |
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| Along with the new construction project of the South Link, 52 more units were employed in 1993. |
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| In the year 1994 the second phase of installing 199 additional fax machines was completed. By this time, the old typing machines are completely obsolete; the Taiwan Railway Administration entered the Facsimile age. |
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| Updating of all telecommunications facilities at all stations |
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| For the needs of all railway related operations, various essential telecommunication facilities were installed at all stations. This equipment required updating along with the development of telecommunications technology. Use of the latest electronic technology, benefited railway telecommunications. |
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| A. |
Dispatching telephone equipment
The dispatching telephone system is the most important telecommunication equipment to maximize railway transport efficiency. The equipment is intended for two functions: one is for train management, the other for assigning trains.
Prior to electrification, the cable used for the old dispatching telephonic system was larger. Using smaller resistors and suspended wiring. The machines applied were generally the WE type, which sent out direct current impulses to the branch machines. |
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After electrification, underground cables were used; these cables were thinner and had larger resistors. However, due to the electrical interference, direct current impulse control was no longer feasible. Consequently, the new dispatching telephone equipment with the electronic control and digital technology was introduced. And in accordance with electrification, the new electricity dispatching telephone system was also installed. |
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The current dispatching telephone systems of the Taiwan Railway Administration are as follows: |
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Train dispatching telephone system |
11 systems |
Car distribution telephone system |
5 systems |
Electrical dispatching telephone system |
4 systems |
Power operation telephone system |
4 systems |
Totaling 24 systems with 617 extension units |
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| B. |
Frequency selective type telephone
In 1967, in the effort to promote the seat number checking service to enhance occupancy rate, frequency type telephone units were installed at the ticket office of all stations. |
| Upon completion of the aforementioned project by 1968, new additions of frequency type telephone units were brought in for the exclusive use of cars in strengthening the coordination between marshaling yards and stations for the work of freight train composition. |
| C. |
Yard interphone equipment
To improve the train dispatching work, speaker phone facilities were installed at various major stations in Huashan, Taipei , Changhua and Kaohsiung stations at first. As the new facilities proved to be effective, additional units have been brought in to other stations. At present, there are a total of 21 sets installed. |
| D. |
Call type telephone units
To improve the yard train dispatching and other communication, as well as to strengthen level crossing safety, electronically controlled call devices were introduced in 1964 to replace the old magnetic type telephone units. These devices turned out to be very efficient. |
| E. |
Central control telephone system
The control room was a critical telecommunications centre for railway operation; there were extensions for all TRA telecommunications systems. These extensions were meant for the use of assistant station managers in handling various matters. Consequently, there were at least 5 to 6 telephone units at each control room resulting in confusion. During the electrification of the Western Line, construction advanced electronic central control telephone systems were installed along the line. |
| F. |
Way Side Telephone boxes
With the telecommunications cable underground project, way side telephone boxes were installed every kilometer along railways for the use of field workers and training staff in reinforcing the maintenance of various railway facilities. These telephone boxes are also of great importance for urgent repair and accidents. |
| G. |
Digital time display
In 1968, digital time display first appeared on the front entrance of the Taipei Railway Station. Later, more displays were installed at various major stations for travelers' convenience. |
| H. |
Automatic train departure time display
To provide travelers with better service, an automatic train departure time display was installed at the passenger entrance of the Taipei Railway Station in 1967. As this device had proved to be rather useful, more units were later installed at major stations including Keelung , Hsinchu, Taichung , Chiayi, Tainan and Kaohsiung . |
| I. |
Broadcasting device
Broadcasting device is a critical service to travelers. These devices were installed at various large stations starting in 1951. At present, 22 stations are equipped with broadcasting facilities. |
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| Station Wireless Phone (Radio System) |
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| Railway electrification has sped up train operations. With present busy railway traffic, it is essential that train masters have direct contact with the stations when in motion for safety and on time arrival. To this end, new UHF Radio facilities were added during the electrification process. On the Coast Line from Taipei to Changhua and Taichung to Changhua, there are a total of 39 stations; each has 39 sets of 25 W cordless base units and 5 W portable units. |
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| In the various electrical powered trains and connected cars, a total of 145 wireless phones were installed. They have proved to be of great efficiency. To further expand such efficiency, fiscal budgets have been planned. To date, there are 285 base units and 628 car units and 1,610 portable units (including those for use by train dispatching and spare units). These devices have increased operational efficiency as well as ensuring safety. |
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| Optical Fiber Telecommunications System |
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| In 1986, the Taiwan Railway Administration moved the Management Bureau, originally located on Yenping North Road , to the new Taipei Station Building . Important telecommunications equipment was at the original location, which was the main control of the telecommunications system for the Taiwan Railway. This equipment had to be relocated to the new place. However, as the relocation of the same coaxial wave transmission of the Western Trunk Line had to be established to maintain normal operation, and because such equipment devices were no longer produced, replacement had to be done immediately. The old equipment was then moved to the new Taipei Station, and after careful research it was decided that optical fiber telecommunications system would be brought in for the line between Taipei and Keelung . This increased circuit capacity and improved transmission quality. The said system started functioning in June 1989. Taiwan railway telecommunications entered the optical fiber telecommunication era. |
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| Construction stages of fiber optic telecommunications system for the Taiwan Railway are as follows: |
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| A. |
1991: Completed section from Taipei to Jhongli |
| B. |
1994: Completed section from Jhongli to Hsinchu |
| C. |
1996: Completed section from Hsinchu to Changhua |
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| Future Development Goals of Taiwan Railway Telecommunications |
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| To further automate and modernize telecommunications in order to meet with future needs of the information era, the TRA has set future goals: |
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| A. |
Complete an island wide optical fiber telecommunications system. |
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Establish an island wide digital switchboard network system. |
| C. |
Establish a train dispatching cordless telephone system. |
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