The New Taipei Metro Corporation announced on Thursday that protective stab-resistant tools will be available to enhance rider and operator safety. Among the tools introduced were anti-stab shield bags and gloves, which are to be installed on the cab and rear of the train for use by those aboard.
In a press release, the New Taipei Metro Corporation acknowledged that several random stabbing attacks have taken place on Taiwan's public transportation in recent years. To bolster emergency response capabilities and existing safety measures, they installed new protective tools and warning devices designed to be especially effective in the case of a knife attack. These measures were inspired by the practical actions of the West Japan Railway, where stab-resistant umbrellas were installed in trains.
The bag is designed to look like a messenger bag, with a built-in steel plate to help passengers wield it as a shield during an attack while ideally keeping their distance. In instances where maintaining distance isn’t possible, gloves designed to protect against stabbings will also be installed, which can provide basic stopping capabilities if one cannot retreat. Both of these are to be installed in the front and back of trains for easy access.
In addition, stab-resistant umbrellas, similar to those used in Japan, will be installed in stations. These are instead meant to be tools for station staff, and can be used in the event of an attack as a means of intervention when a train pulls into a station to better ensure passenger safety during evacuation.
The New Taipei Metro said that protective equipment is being rolled out across the city. For the light rail system, shield bags and gloves will be given to on-duty drivers, while stab-resistant umbrellas will be given to the Hongshulin (紅樹林) and Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf (淡水漁人碼頭站) stations. For the regular Taipei MRT, all train cabs and carriages will have the protective equipment installed, with the umbrellas available to staff at all information desks on the lines.