Kaohsiung's New Light Rail Drivers／專注上路！第一代輕軌駕駛的挑戰
Kaohsiung's New Light Rail Drivers
◎English translation: Wendy Wei Chang ◎Photos by Pao Chung-hui
"Staying focused is a light rail drivers' most important job," states Mr. Fu Yu-Sheng, Section Chief of the Light Rail's Transit Operations Unit. The drivers have added security concerns as the Kaohsiung light rail must share roads with cars, motorcycles and pedestrians. A driver is required to react quickly at all times and always pay attention.
With the new light rail system opening, the first group of drivers is well-prepared. The drivers have been recruited from Kaohsiung's MRT and therefore have many years of experience operating trains. However in order to safely transition into light rail operations, they were required to complete training sessions in Spain. Light rail drivers differ from those of the MRT as they have different signals, whistles and braking methods. There are also different types of emergencies and safety concerns that the new drivers must learn.
The drivers must pay particular attention to where passengers go after they exit and make sure that no one is on the tracks. Therefore, light rail drivers are not only responsible for operating the trams but also for maintaining the safety of their passengers.
專注上路！第一代輕軌駕駛的挑戰
◎文／李明潓 ◎攝影／鮑忠暉
「高度專注力，是輕軌駕駛首要的必備條件！」高雄輕軌中心車務課課長傅郁升說，輕軌不同於擁有專用軌道的捷運、台鐵，而是在一般平面道路上，與汽機車、行人共用，可以說，駕駛輕軌是一個需要眼明手快和快速反應的工作。
台灣第一條輕軌在高雄上路，首批輕軌駕駛已經準備就緒，從具有捷運駕駛經驗，轉換為輕軌種子駕駛，他們在西班牙完成輕軌駕駛課程的全部訓練，也具備靈敏的臨場反應。
尤其當輕軌行經與汽機車、行人共用的道路上時，駕駛必須同時注意號誌、鳴笛、煞車系統及各式突發狀況；又列車進站和離站時，必須留意車廂內外乘客上下車情形，並緊盯乘客下車後的移動方向。
因此，操作列車行進、觀照旅客服務、維護行車安全，甚至發生事故的緊急狀況處理與通報，輕軌駕駛都要一肩扛起。
Residents are Reminded to Yield Right-of-Way for the Light Rail
◎English translation: Wendy Wei Chang ◎Photos by Pao Chung-hui, Li Ming-hui
In 2015, Kaohsiung became the first city in Taiwan to open a light rail system. Kaohsiung residents must now learn about the safety concerns that come with trams running congruently with the traffic. "In Spain, when the light rail approaches, people let the trams pass by, even though it holds up the traffic," states Mr. Fu Yu-sheng, Section Chief of Train Operations in Kaohsiung's light rail Operations Center. Mr. Fu, completed training in Bilbao, Spain. He found that in Europe it is common place to yield for trams. "Light rail drivers in Spain do not hesitate to honk when they see slow pedestrians or tourists who do not look as though they know where they are going. Their first concern is to maintain safety," he explains. He emphasizes that the light rail must always get right-of-way at intersections and cars must learn to always maintain a safe distance from the trams.
The Ministry of Transportation has also developed regulations and fines concerning infractions involving light rail trams. Vehicles that are going through any intersection that is used by the light rail must stop, look and listen for trams before continuing through. The laws are similar to those applicable to conventional railroad crossings. If drivers do not yield the right-of-way for the light rail, they can be fined anywhere from 600 to 1,800 NTD. Fines for cyclists and scooters are from 300 to 600 NTD. Fines for running red lights at intersections shared with the light rail are from 3,600 to 18,000 NTD and fines for turning right at a red light can now be from 1,200 to 3,600 NTD.
Kaohsiung's residents are reminded to enjoy the convenience of Kaohsiung's new light rail system but always remember to yield the right-of-way!
噹噹噹！ 輕軌先行 高雄市民再創榮耀
◎文／李明潓 ◎攝影／鮑忠暉、李明潓
「在西班牙街上，遇到輕軌開過來，即使是動彈不得的車陣中，所有人都會極盡所能讓出該給輕軌優先通行的路！」高雄輕軌中心車務課課長傅郁升分享在西班牙畢爾包接受訓練期間，深刻感受當地人自發性禮讓輕軌。他指出，「遇到搞不清楚的觀光客或反應稍慢的用路人，西班牙的輕軌駕駛，會毫不客氣一路鳴笛，務求人車安全。」
2015年，高雄開啟輕軌新體驗，成為台灣第一個導入輕軌的城市，高雄市民備感榮耀的同時，也學習適應輕軌優先的全新交通規則。
特別是輕軌部分軌道與一般車輛共用道路，行經交岔路口時，輕軌具有「優先行駛」權，同時列車體積較大，前後都必須保持一定的安全距離，不再是過去「平交道」管制概念的行車規則。
也因應輕軌上路，交通部已完成相關條文修訂和裁罰基準。包括行車經過輕軌共用交岔路口，必須比照平交道「停、看、聽」，確認左右皆無輕軌行進，才能通過。若未禮讓輕軌先行，汽車罰款新台幣600至1800元，慢車罰款300至600元。
此外，車輛在輕軌路口的違規行為，新法也將加重處罰，包括在輕軌共用路口闖紅燈，罰款3600元至1萬800元；違規紅燈右轉，罰款1200至3600元。
高雄，享受輕軌的輕快優雅，很簡單 ，只要大家遵守輕軌優先就可以了！
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輕軌行經與一般道路共用交叉路口，輕軌行駛範圍內地面繪製黃色警示區域，請用路人行經黃線區禁止停留，應儘速通過。
The light rail shares the road with other vehicles. In order to maintain safety, when orange signal lights go on, vehicles must stop before the yellow zone and yield right-of-way for the passing trams.
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