TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former Minister without Portfolio Chang Ching-sen (張景森) on Tuesday retracted his suggestion that he would leave the DPP and run for Yilan County magistrate over the government's planned Yilan high speed rail extension.
The Railway Bureau has estimated the HSR extension would cost NT$352.1 billion (US$10.8 billion), compared with about NT$220 billion for a more direct conventional railway line from Taipei, per Mirror Media. The bureau said the project is intended not only to ease congestion at the Hsuehshan Tunnel but also to complement the existing rail network, allowing it to focus on regional transportation.
After threatening to leave the DPP, Chang criticized the HSR extension on Friday, arguing it would do little to ease traffic congestion, per Liberty Times. He also warned that competition with the conventional rail and bus systems could reduce their ridership and service capacity.
Chang said Monday he would ask magistrate candidates from the DPP and KMT whether they support the direct rail proposal and would use the savings from the less expensive project to improve Yilan's broader transportation network, per UP Media.
DPP Yilan County Councilor Chen Wen-chang (陳文昌) criticized Chang's remarks, noting that he did not publicly oppose the project while serving as minister without portfolio during the DPP administration's push to extend the HSR to Yilan, per UDN. Chen added that the extension is a key component of the government's plan to create a six-hour around-the-island rail network.
Chang walked back his remarks on Tuesday, saying his opposition was directed at what he considers an ill-conceived transportation policy, not the DPP, per ETtoday. He said he would continue voicing his opposition to the high-speed rail extension from within the party.
Chang added that because his household registration is not in Yilan, he is ineligible to run for county magistrate. He said he would instead support civic groups opposing the extension.
Chang is not the only former DPP official to criticize the project. Former Minister without Portfolio Wu Tse-cheng (吳澤成) warned that without stronger links to Yilan's local transportation network, travelers may be less willing to use the HSR, per UDN.
Wu proposed elevating the railway between Toucheng Township and Suao Township to increase train capacity and better connect HSR passengers with other parts of the county. Former Transportation Minister Ho Chen-tan (賀陳旦) has also opposed the extension, per Storm Media.
Citing a Control Yuan report released in May, Ho said the HSR extension lacked a feasibility assessment, did not comply with procurement procedures, and failed to communicate adequately with the public.
Opponents have also raised concerns over land use. HSR Yilan Extension Oversight Coalition Convener Kang Fang-ming (康芳銘) said about 90% of the 560 hectares planned for the railway and station are designated prime farmland, per AgriJourney News.
Land valuation expert Chen Pi-yuan (陳碧源) said that while the project may be justified from a national planning perspective, locating the station on prime farmland rather than in an urban area is inappropriate. She argued the decision conflicts with Taiwan's farmland protection policy while creating transportation connectivity issues.
Chen added that an earlier proposal to integrate the HSR station with Yilan Railway Station would have left little room for property development because most of the surrounding land is state-owned. She said land at the proposed station site has already increased in value fivefold, raising concerns about land speculation.
Representatives of Yilan's hospitality industry said they welcome the prospect of attracting more visitors but urged the government to improve local transportation so tourists can travel throughout the county rather than remaining near the HSR station, per Liberty Times.
