TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- The full 43-minute transcript of the calls made by the driver of the ill-fated Puyuma Express before its deadly derailment in Taiwan's Yilan County has been posted online by UDN.

On Sunday afternoon, the Puyuma express train No. 6432 , was headed south from Yilan bound for southeastern city of Taitung (台東) when it entered a curved area of track at Xinma Station having a radius of 300 meters and a maximum speed limit of 75 kilometers per hour (kph). However, for reasons that are still being investigated, including the disabling of Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, at 4:48 p.m. the train was clocked at 140 kph, and two minutes later leaped off the tracks, killing 18 and injuring 210.

The Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) initially claimed that, after checking the record of communications by the driver, 48-year-old Yu Chen-chung (尤振仲), he had failed follow protocol by not alerting the inspector that he had disabled ATP. However, the record of his calls clearly shows that Yu, in fact, did inform the inspector that he had disabled ATP.

Because Oct. 21 was on a weekend, manpower was insufficient and Yu, who is normally a supervisor in charge of scheduling in the office, went on duty to drive over the weekend, only to encounter mechanical problems with his train.

The record also shows that while driving between Gongliao and Fulong, Yu reported an abnormality with the train's power supply, intermittent power disruptions, and the throttle dropping to zero because of a faulty air compressor. He called on the inspector to send technicians to reset the compressor and discussed with the inspector on how to eliminate the problem.

The train then loses power again. After the inspector boarded the train and made repairs, the train then crossed Yilan, Luodong, and Dongshan stations, but continued to experience intermittent power problems.

The driver and inspector continued to communicate on how to fix the problem up to the very last second before the derailment took place at Xinma Station.

The call made by the driver lasted for 43 minutes prior to the train derailment. The call ends with the inspector asking, "Did you hear me?" Hello...," but there was no response.

Did the continuous distractions of the 43-minute call during the journey interfere with the driver's concentration, resulting in inadequate deceleration when the train reached the curve? Or was the crash caused by mechanical problems? The investigation is still ongoing.

The following is an English translation of the full transcript of the 43-minute call based on the Chinese version posted by UDN:

(Location: Gongliao-Fulong)



16:05:59 Driver: There is a problem with the 6432 locomotive. Sometimes the power will disappear automatically. Please report to the dispatcher.

16:06:13 Driver: There is a problem with the 6432 locomotive. Sometimes the power will disappear automatically.

16:06:23 Driver: Sometimes good, sometimes bad

16:06:33 Driver: 2008

16:07:55

(Location: Fulong - Dali)

(Train condition: 1, 8 main air compressor stops running)

Driver: Hello, 6432.

Dispatcher: 6432 What is your car?

Driver: 6432 locomotive power is sometimes good, sometimes bad.

Dispatcher: What do you mean? When is it good or bad?

Driver: Sometimes the power will be cut off automatically.

Dispatcher: Will power automatically cut off? Is there any fault indicator?

Driver: Fault indicator light, Car 1 and Car 8 air compressor skips.

Dispatcher: The air compressor is tripped, and the 1 to 8 vehicle air compressor skips.

Driver: Yes, that should not affect it.

Dispatcher: The air compressor is your air conditioner, it is your air-conditioning. right?

Driver: Yes. But my power is sometimes cut off and everything is gone.

Dispatcher: I see, you have no problem operating it now.

Driver: No problem, when it gets to Hualien, can it be inspected?

Dispatcher: Do you have a stop in Yilan?

Driver: Or an inspector.

Dispatcher: Do you have a stop in Yilan?

Driver: I have a stop in Yilan.

Dispatcher: OK, there is a stop in Yilan stopped. I would like to have it checked in Yilan.

Driver: Good, received, thank you.

Dispatcher: OK, thank you.

16:13:48

(Location: Dali - Daxi)

(Train condition: MR is too low, resulting in MRPS and PBPS not shut off, power control)

Inspector: Hello. Hey.

Driver: Hello, 6432.

Inspector: Hello, Master, what is the problem with your car?

Driver: That, the throttle will return to zero, and then stop the opportunity to function.

Inspector: Do you say that the throttle will return to zero? What will return to zero? Hello, sorry, I didn't understand what you said.

Driver: There is a problem with the 6432 locomotive.

Inspector: Locomotive, hey, what do you say will be zero?

Driver: The throttle, the throttle will be cut off automatically. Power.

Inspector: Power, then what if the Car 7's motor is isolated?

Driver: Isolation of the car's motor?

Inspector: Yes, just put that one, you mean a certain car, which motor are you talking about? Is there a problem with the motor of Car 7?

Driver: There is no problem with Car 7, it is an air compressor.

Inspector: Hello, so say, you can't move the car now, right? Hello ~ the reception signal is bad.

Driver: The parking brake is working.

Inspector: Parking brake, well, then you are isolated, can it run?

Driver: There is no way at the moment, I can't pull the throttle.

Inspector: Can't pull it up, OK, well, I will call you back.

16:16:19

(Location: Daxi)

(Train condition: MR resumes and lifts the pantograph, suspected that the driver restarts without enabling ATP)

Driver: Hello, 6432.

Inspector: Hello~ Master, how are you dealing with the situation now?

Driver: I am staying on the driver's side of the cab. There is still no way to loosen it.

Inspector: Then, when you drive halfway it does this, or after stopping at a station it does this?

Driver: When I pass the neutral section, when pulling on the throttle there is no speed.

Inspector: Is it after passing the neutral section is it, huh? Did you not switch off the VCB (breaker)? Right

Driver: VCB is off.

Inspector: After the neutral section, is your train condition still right?

Driver: Or do I lift the pantograph again?

Inspector: It doesn't matter, well, you can lift the pantograph again. If it doesn't work, you can call Inspector Tu from above, which is faster.

Driver: 0928?

Inspector: Yes, the one at 0928xxxxxx, well, you should deal with it first, I will not argue with you.

Driver: Good.

Inspector: OK, you deal with it first, you deal with it first.

16:19:51

(Location: Daxi - Guishan)

(Train condition: MR has returned to 6.0bar or more, at this time MRPS is not operating, power is inhibited)

Driver: Hello, 6432.

Dispatcher: Are you moving?

Driver: There is movement, but right now he is sliding, no power. Speed ​​49, but it is sliding.

Dispatcher: No power?

Driver: No power.

Dispatcher: Wow~ There is no power, then you should at least slide into the Guishan Station. See if you can. Slide into the Guishan Station.

Driver: Slide into the Guishan Station.

Dispatcher: You are following 6234.

Driver: Good.

16:20:21

(Location: Daxi - Guishan)

(Train condition: At this time MR is too low MRPS cuts-off power control.)

Dispatcher: You ~ you ~ don't want, you can slide into the station.

Driver: Good.

Dispatcher: If there is no power.

16:20:33

(Location: Daxi - Guishan)

(Train condition: MR returns to 6.0bar or more.)

Driver: Hello, 6432.

Dispatcher: How is your car now?

Driver: Sometimes there is no power, sometimes there is power

Dispatcher: Sometimes there is power, sometimes not, then when you pull (the throttle)...

Driver: You are pulling the throttle, sometimes not, sometimes there is.

Dispatcher: What about you now? How about returning now and pulling again?

Driver: Now there is.

Dispatcher: There is, have to hurry and speed up

Driver: OK, good.

16:22:17

(Location: Daxi - Guishan)

(Train condition: At this time, MR is too low, causing MRPS and PBPS to cut-off power control.)

Driver: Hello, 6432.

Dispatcher: Hello, the inspector has just asked you to lift the pantograph right.

(Train condition: MR has resumed MRPS and PBPS action, established power, and then MR decreased MRPS cut-off power control.)



Driver: Just have a bow and restart, right.

Dispatcher: Good, then you can? I tell you...

Driver: Hey, it still doesn't work.

(Train condition: The tilting system confirms the entry to the standby tilt state and the main air compressor is forcibly stopped.)

Dispatcher: Still no?

Driver: There is no power now.

Dispatcher: Is that so.

(Train condition: MR is too low to cut MRPS and PBPS, power control.)



Driver: Wait a minute to see if you can slide into the city.

Dispatcher: OK, you pull it again, then go back and reset it again.

Driver: Sometimes there is, sometimes there is not.

Dispatcher: Still sometimes it is and sometimes not? What is displayed when it is not working?

Driver: It is when it is tilted, right.

Dispatcher: What?

Driver: 2008 and 2007.

Dispatcher: I mean what is displaying? Show what is wrong.

Driver: Well, the fault that is currently displayed, there an abnormal signal when tilting.

Dispatcher: What about tilting?

Driver: The signal is abnormal, and the air compressor is forcibly stopping.

Dispatcher: Air compressor? Well, then I understand that you have just lifted the pantograph and then lifted the pantograph again, right?

Driver: Yes, just just lifted the pantograph once.

Dispatcher: I see, did you stop in Toucheng?

Driver: Oh, the parking brake light is on again.

Dispatcher: The parking brake light is still on?

Driver: Yes.

Dispatcher: Then can you still move the car now?

Driver: It is now rolling. Just don't move any more.

Dispatcher: In that case, then you can reset it, and see if you can reset it, OK, OK.

16:22:17

(Location: Daxi - Guishan)

Driver: Good~ Good~.

16:25:15

(Location: Guishan - Toucheng)

Driver: Toucheng, 6432 call.

16:25:28

Driver: Toucheng, 6432 call

16:25:28

Driver: 6432 calls the Toucheng.

16:25:33

(Train condition: The train is located near Toucheng.)

Driver: Ah, I would like to ask the dispatcher to report 6432 is requesting to park in Toucheng.

16:26:54

(Location: Guishan - Toucheng)

(Train condition: MR gradually rises to make MRPS close to establishing power.)

Inspector: Hello, 6432?

Driver: Hello, 6432

Inspector: Hey.

Driver: Hey, hello.

Inspector: Ah, what is your car like now? Is there a problem? I'm from the inspection unit.

Driver: Just the throttle speed is sometimes pulled up, sometimes it works, sometimes not.

Inspector: Ah, is the light on your parking brake lit?

Inspector: Sometimes it is and sometimes not?

Driver: Sometimes it becomes zero, and sometimes the parking brake will come on automatically.

Inspector: Then you, do you know which car has the parking brake on? Is TCMS displayed?

Driver: All are working, then the train will stop.

Inspector: Is your train still running?

Driver: Now there is power. Now the train is driving right.

Inspector: Ah, is there any way to confirm which car has a problem with the stoppage?

Driver: The parking brake lights will come on for all the carriages.

Inspector: Every car stops, he...

The driver: Every parking brake is lit, right. Now

Inspector: The parking brake light for every car lights up?

Driver: They all light up, I will call the train conductor to release them.

Inspector: Then every car becomes released.

Driver: Yes, the throttle can be pulled, sometimes not.

Inspector: How could it be like this, impossible, then you have seen the green car side lights lit, you see him, if it works, the side lights of each car will be lit.

Driver: Yes, the DDU is lit, and the DDU parking brake stays lit.

Inspector: What?

Driver: Call the train conductor to take a look.

Inspector: You see DDU is not permitted, DDU is just displaying, you have to look to see if it shows up on the side of the car.

Driver: When it lights up, the car stops.

Inspector: He he he, you have to see which car, all of your TCMS were switched on?

Driver: Have to check which car, is that right?

Inspector: Shouldn't be?

Driver: Because I am pulling the throttle now, the speed will be zero and I can't pull it up.

(Train condition: MR rebounds, but then MRPS cuts power control after falling.)



Inspector: How could this be? You will continue to run. If it is lit, you can call the train conductor. You should first probe to the outside of the window to see which green light is on. Otherwise, you can't grasp it. Otherwise, how can you grab it?

(Note: The tilt system enters the backup tilt, the reason is unknown.)



Driver: It just lit up, they all lit up.

Inspector: Can't pull up the brake light and it lights up? That light, cab parking brake light.

(Note: MR is too low, power is controlled.)



Driver: The train conductor also taking a look here, as well as the Yilan Works Section.

Inspector: Come again, you can take a look to see which car. You have to decide which car, otherwise it is difficult to catch.

Driver: Look at which car is right?

Inspector: OK, if you have any questions, please report back to me. Where is your next stop?

Driver: Good...

Driver: Yilan

Inspector: Yilan, you can drive it first, you drive it first, then are you late?

Inspector: Is there any delay today? Hello~ Are you late now?

Driver: Yes, there is a delay, my power is gone now, and now the throttle has no speed.

Inspector: Hurry up and see, are you looking at the green light on the side of the car now?

Driver: The green light on the side of the car, then I asked the train conductor to help me see if the lights on the side of the car are lit.

Inspector: The probe will know.

Driver: How do I probe, my probe will get stuck.

Inspector: OK, let the train conductor look at it. Are you still moving now? Is the train still going?

Driver: The side light of the car, isn't it, next to the side of the car, doesn't fall, is it lit?

Inspector: Just pay attention to the window.

Driver: I can't see... Don't look at it, it's too dangerous.

Inspector: Is there still power? Is there power?

Driver: Nothing, now every car's side lights are not lit, it's normal.

Inspector: That's not a question of the parking brakes.

Driver: It should not be a problem with the parking brakes, it should be the throttle. Because the throttle is sometimes pulled, sometimes it is not pulled, so sometimes it is pulled halfway and the speed itself becomes zero.

Inspector: Then... are you the same for all the carriages? Then look at the motor and see if the motor is isolated.

Driver: Yes, I am now turning into a backup on the driver's side.

Inspector: The power supply is blocked, that is the problem of the air compressor, the power supply is blocked, which car do you know?

Driver: This is the driver's side.

Inspector: Which car should he have this? Which car do you have in the bottom row?

Driver: Car 8

Inspector: Car 8, then you press Car 8, press with your hand for 5 seconds to see if it will recover.

Inspector: Press the position of the car to see if it will recover, otherwise the power supply can be used.

Driver: It is still yellow.

Inspector: Is the throttle ready now?

Driver: Sometimes it is, sometimes not. It's working now.

Driver: Now want to stop in Yilan, now the throttle is off.

Inspector: Now there is electricity again, isn't it? Is the throttle OK?

Driver: Yes, now in Yilan.

Inspector: Good, in principle, I will help you change the train, I will call Hualien to change the train.

Driver: Will change the train in Hualien, right.

Inspector: Then you should try your best.

16:35:51

(Location: Yilan)

(Vehicle condition: after Jiaoxi rolled through MR MR is too low MRPS, BPPS cut power control. After parking, MR recovery is relieved.)

Driver: Hello, 6432.

Dispatcher: Is there any problem now?

Driver: Yilan parking now.

Dispatcher: I know, there are no more problems now. After you come back to iaoxi?

Driver: Yes, there are still problems, the throttle will sometimes be cut off automatically.

Dispatcher: Will it be cut off automatically? Will it reset when it stops?

Driver: If you don't reset, just roll and roll for a while and then all the lights are on. The train stops. I try again, sometimes pull it, and it speeds up again.

Dispatcher: Hey, how about this, can the parking brake deactivated?

Driver: Yes, it will go out, but very slowly.

(Train condition: Stopping in Yilan)

Dispatcher: Is it right when it is slow? OK, OK, then I understand. That is, if you slide like this, he will be fine. If you are good, you will be right again.

Driver: Come again, right.

Dispatcher: Did you manually reset when you just passed the neutral section?

Driver: It is manual cutting.

Dispatcher: Is manual cutting still the same?

Driver: Still the same.

Dispatcher: Was it the same when going to Jiaoxi? Is this the same phenomenon?

Driver: Yes, it is the same situation. Sometimes it is not.

Dispatcher: Sometimes it doesn't take as long?

Yilan Duty Stationmaster: 6432 can you drive?

Dispatcher: You tell him that he can drive, I will hang up the phone first.

16:40:29

(Location: Yilan - Erjie)

(Train condition: After leaving Yilan)

Inspector: Hello...

Driver: Hello, 6432

Inspector: Hello, 6432.

Inspector: 6432? Do you still have power in your train?

Driver: Now there is.

Inspector: Now there is, then you see how much MR you have now?

Driver: Now there are more MR7 points.

Inspector: At 7, will it come up?

Driver: Yes, it will come very slowly.

Inspector: Very slow... Did you see if the air compressor is it lit up? Is there a fault? Do you know which car?

(Train condition: MR>7 bar but 1 and 8 car air compressor forced to stop.)

Driver: The air compressor is up. Car 1 and Car 8, Car 8

Inspector: The Car 8, I told you, it is very simple, your Car 8 is right, you called the train conductor to put the third row on the right side of your cab, BOA, BOUN pulled it down and then pulled it up.

Inspector: Hey, who else is in this cab besides you?

Driver: The work crew has been taken off in Yilan.

Inspector: Then you called the train conductor to help you pull it.

Driver: I had him reset it.

Inspector: The top row, the third BOUN from the right.

Inspector: At the back, yes, there is no other person in your cab besides you, no?

Driver: No one next to me

Inspector: Then you called the train conductor to come over. Is he in Car 8 car or is this car or Car 1?

Driver: Car 1, the train conductor is in the back, and now it is moving slowly.

Inspector: Car 1, that's OK, tell him to do the back car, first enter the cab of the first car, open the electric switchboard in the electric room, in the top row, pull down the last BOUN and then pull it up. You can't do this in Car 1, wait for the train conductor to do it.

16:46:54

(Location: Luodong - Dongshan)

(Train condition: After the BOUN OFF, Car 8 car is turned ON again, the forced stop signal is generated again, and Car 1 does not perform the reset action.)

Driver: Hello, 6432.

Dispatcher: Do you have to reset the circuit breaker of the main air compressor?

Driver: Forced air compressor circuit breaker?

Dispatcher: Yes, have you reset it?

Driver: Car 8 car skipped again.

Dispatcher: Skipped after being reset?

Driver: Car 1 did not come back.

Dispatcher: I tell you, wait to reset Car 1, call the train conductor to reset, where is he?

(Train condition: ATP shutdown)

Driver: He should be in Car 1 now.

Dispatcher: I mean, do you know where the circuit breaker is? Can you call the trainmaster to reset?

Driver: The 3rd row BOUN of Car 1 was turned off and then turned on.

Dispatcher: I told him to go find you, and you tell him.

Driver: OK, received.

Dispatcher: Your Car 8 was reset and went down again, right?

Driver: Now the ATP has been disabled.

Dispatcher: If the ATP is disabled does that fix it?

Driver: Now that the ATP has been disabled, it is speeding up.

Dispatcher: No, if the ATP is disabled will it be good?

Driver: At present, the disabling of speed control is present. I will observe and see.

Dispatcher: Well, then I call the train conductor to your side, you teach him how to reset.

Driver: OK, received.

Dispatcher: OK! OK.

16:48:52

(Location: Dongshan-Xinma)

(Train condition: After the BOUN OFF bit of the Car 8 is turned ON again, the forced stop signal is generated again, and Car 1 does not perform the reset action.)

Driver: Hello, 6432.

Inspector: 6432 Did you have the conductor to help you reset?

Driver: Car 1 did not reset. Car 8 resets or skips.

Inspector: How?

Driver: Car 1 is not reset, Car 8 resets or skips.

Inspector: Skipped off? What do you say? What skipped off.

Driver: That, it's that the air compressor was forced to stop.

Inspector: OK, you have to reset it again.

Inspector: Call the train conductor once again.

Inspector: Did you hear me?

Inspector: Hello...