At 10 am, trains across Taiwan sounded their whistles in unison to pay respect to a fallen conductor. Two years ago today, the train Tsai Chung-hui 蔡崇輝 was driving slammed into a dump truck illegally using a railway crossing. Rather than flee the front cab, Tsai remained to sound his whistle. In the process, he helped protect the 300 people onboard.
This is the scene at a train depot in Changhua at 10 am. In unison, the trains sound their whistles for the late conductor Tsai Chung-hui. His widow, Wang Li-chuan, bowed to thank everyone for their support.
A day earlier, the Ministry of Civil Service overturned a previous finding and ruled that Tsai died while risking his life to maintain his post. After two years, Tsai’s wife finally gained closure.
Wang Li-chuan Tsai’s Widow This provides the justice and honor my husband deserves. I want to tell him that I accomplished what he asked of me.
In January 2012, Tsai died when the train he was driving crashed into a dump truck that was illegally using a railway crossing. The ministry originally decided that Tsai tried to flee the conductor’s cab, but didn’t have time. Last week, Taiwan Railways issued another report that said Tsai was facing forward when killed and that he had not tried to flee the cab. That meant he stayed in the cab to sound the whistle, apparently in the hope that it would alert the truck driver to move his vehicle. The legal implications of Tsai holding firm to his post, in spite of the danger, meant that his widow qualified for additional compensation, a decision that pleased Tsai’s fellow workers.
Hsieh Sheng-ming Director, TRA Workers Union All of my colleagues have said they are very happy. I think sounding the train whistle is a lot like firefighters sounding their sirens. It has special meaning. This is the first time we have done such a thing.
The union estimates that 179 trains sounded their whistles to honor Tsai’s heroism and sacrifice.
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