RP-argumentation
No matter how perfect a masterpiece is, it would still be criticized and questioned by those who hold opposite opinions against it. Safety is the top problem that people doubt and attack to this new transportation. Many people think the license was permitted too fast and T.H.S.R. Corporation was too rushing for its operation because it had delayed the completing dates. Commoners have the myth that T.H.S.R. is a mixture of European and Japanese systems and question its safety and efficiency of integration. But, according to the interview with the leader of T.H.S.R.C., Nita Ing, from Common Wealth Magazine in 2007, when the mixture and safety problem were asked, her answer never changed. “Safety can never be compromised and there is not the so-called mixture system.” said by Nita with strong confidence. She then explained the reason that the company changed European system into Japanese system in 1999 was due to the consideration of adaptability— the frequent earthquakes in Taiwan are the major consideration (Wu 55). Initially, T.H.S.R.C. selected the European
Inter City Express (ICE) system from Germany to form the core system of THSR. Unfortunately, there happened a huge train disaster (
Eschede Train Disaster) to ICE in 1998, which caused more than one hundred people died and another hundred were severely injured. Having the consideration of the 921 Earthquake, 1999, T.H.S.R.C. decided to adopt Japan's
Shinkansen (新幹線) technology instead of ICE due to its Urgent Earthquake Detection and Alarm System, an
earthquake detection system although this decision made the company have to pay NT$ 2.1 billion as the compensation of violating the contract later in 1999 (Taiwan, Wu 53). Thus, the core system of T.H.S.R. now, is adopting Japan’s Shinkansen technology, including 700T train (manufactured by a consortium of Japanese companies which is led by Kawasaki Heavy Industries), mechanic and electric systems are totally from Japan (Taiwan). Moreover, T.H.S.R.C. had signed a contract with Ministry of Transportation & Communication that T.H.S.R. needed to offer the contract of “Independent Verification and Validation” (IV&V) so that it could start operating by the supervision of the third organization. Then, T.H.S.R.C. signed a contract with the independent third supervisor, Lloyd’s Register of Shipping from England, and then passed the inspection and obtained the certification from them (Chang).
Works Cited List (Updated)
Works Cited
Chang, Chu Yi. “Duo-biao rong-yi, fong-sian nan-kang” <奪標容易，風險難扛> [Easy to Get the Tender but Hard to Get Rid of Risks]. Common Wealth 1 Oct. 1997: 78.
Chang, Huei Ming. “IV&V guo-le! Gao-tie nian-di tung-che lou shu-guang”
[IV&V Has Passed the Inspection! T.H.S.R. Gets the Chance to Operate in the End of This Year]. TVBS NEWS. 22 Nov. 2006. 8 June 2007 http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/061121/8/6v62.html.
Cheng, Chi Fong. “Li ting gao-tie，Chen tzung-tung da gao-tie wang-fan bei-gao” <力挺高鐵，陳總統搭高鐵往返北高> [President Chen Took T.H.S.R. from Taipei to Kaohsiung in Order to Support T.H.S.R.]. News Yam.Com 1 Jan. 2007. 8 June 2007 http://news.yam.com/cna/life/200701/20070101771345.html.
HSR Plan. Jan. 2007. Bureau of High Speed Rail. 22 May 2007 http://www.hsr.gov.tw/homepage.nsf/hsrplan?OpenFrameset.
Lee, Yao Yu. “The Effect on Macroeconomics in Taiwan by Building the High Speed Railway.” Electronic Theses and Dissertation System. 2000. 8 June 2007
Peng, Chiun Bi. “Ban-tsz tai shao, piao-jia tai guei, gao-tie yin you” <班次太少，票價太貴，高鐵隱憂> [Less Number of Runs with Too Expensive Ticket Price Becomes Invisible Problem for High Speed Rail]. News Yam.Com 19 Oct. 2006. 22 May 2007 < http://news.yam.com/bcc/life/200610/20061019460434.html>.
“Taiwan High Speed Rail.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 4 June 2007. 8 June 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_High_Speed_Rail#_note-6.
Wang, Shu Li. “Tai-wan gao-tie fu-zhi ri-ben xin-gan-xian” <台灣高鐵複製日本新幹線> [Taiwan High Speed Rail Copies Japan's Shinkansen]. TVBS NEWS. 2 Nov. 2002. 8 June 2007 <http://www.tvbs.com.tw/news/news_list.asp?no=emnyowen20021102102221>.
Wei, Shu. “HSR Provides the Most Job Opportunities in 2007.” Dajiyuan News. 30 Dec. 2006. 6 April 2007
RP Outline (Updated)
High Speed Rail Brings a Remarkable Contribution to Taiwan
Thesis: The construction of Taiwan High Speed Rail (T.H.S.R.) fulfills better integration of mass transportation system and simultaneously, the advantages of conserving energy and reducing air pollution are, too, significant considerations of building T.H.S.R. Most of all, it can relieve the traffic congestion and promote more balanced regional developments, which means it is going to carry out the blueprint of “One-day Living Circle”. For all the benefits T.H.S.R. brings, citizens should believe this remarkable construction is going to make huge economic benefits in Western Corridor and it will be operated much steadily by giving more time.
I. A memorial and remarkable transportation system was born this year, 2007.
A. Taiwan High Speed Rail system operated for the very first time on Jan. 5.
B. It took over ten years and cost 480 billion NT$ dollars to complete this great transportation.
C. In 1996, central government decided to cooperate with private businesses to construct T.H.S.R. because of its financial burden.
D. T.H.S.R. is going to make huge economic benefits in Western Corridor and it will be operated much steadily in the future.
II. Taiwan High Speed Rail was started through BOT mode.
A. Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) is a mode for governmental business transferring to private business as reinforce for public construction.
l It can help government reduces its financial burden and increases the efficiency of public construction and operation.
B. Since T.H.S.R. now starts operating, how to run it successfully would be its main focus.
III. Taiwan High Speed Rail brings booming economic benefits as following.
A. Mass transportation can be better integrated with the completion of T.H.S.R.
B. T.H.S.R. conserves energy by using less land area comparing with land area of freeways.
C. Taking T.H.S.R. reduces air pollution more than driving cars.
D. T.H.S.R. relieves traffic congestion and promotes more balanced regional developments; thus, it carries out the dream of “One-day Living Circle”.
1. The value of land near every station increases.
2. It brings more job opportunities during building and operating periods.
a. Workers are needed in constructing, operating and maintaining T.H.S.R.
b. People can find jobs without leaving their hometowns too far since it only takes 130 minutes from northern to southern Taiwan.
IV. The opposing voices and refutation of Taiwan High Speed Rail.
A. People doubt if it is safe enough.
1. T.H.S.R.C. replaced European ICE system with Japanese
Shinkansen system in 1999.
2. T.H.S.R. passed the inspection of Lloyd’s Register of Shipping as the independent supervisor.
B. Refutation from professional opinions—An interview with the professor of Economics
1. Is it necessary to build T.H.S.R since there are convenient freeway, railway and airplanes?
l It takes a lot of time by taking bus and train and airplane has capacity and safety problem.
l T.H.S.R. shortens the time of business trip and tourism; thus saves business costs.
2. Its ticket price may not fit the expectation of common people.
l It is possible to lower the price after operating more steadily.
3. Economist John M. Keynes’ theory as a support.
l T.H.S.R. will stimulate consumption and investment increase and cause GDP to increase.
V. We should judge the value of T.H.S.R. through a long-run vision rather than a short- run one.
1. It will carry out economic benefits and boost economy in Taiwan.
2. It is the first time of T.H.S.R and we should not being too harsh on it.
3. We should give encouragement and view it from long-term insight to expect its remarkable performances.
4. Time will prove the contributions it makes.
