Study on Urban Rail Rapid Transit Accidents Prevention and Hazards Identification

In comparison with the other transportation modes, rail rapid transit already enjoys a higher degree of safety as it is designed with the exclusive right of way and the automatic train control and monitoring systems. Nevertheless, rail rapid transit systems are not free from serious accidents, which often led to human injuries and facility damages. The planning of accident prevention and emergency measures, therefore, are still important issues of the rail rapid transit operations. In this study, we examine the hazard identification model in the rail rapid transit by reviewing the theoretical basis on hazards and accidents, and analyzing on the historical rail rapid transit accident data and the rail rapid transit safety features. Fourteen categories of rail rapid transit accidents are classified and listed by their nature and cause. The model presented in this study analyses the process of hazard identification in two stages, which clearly indicate the factors of the inherent and direct hazard and the weaknesses in the response system. The study uses the fire accident took place in the Mucha Line of Taipei Rapid Transit System in 1993 as an example to illustrate the hazard identification model by pointing out the cause of the incident and the weakness in the emergency systems.