TAIWAN: Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp has unveiled the first of 12 N700ST trainsets ordered from the Hitachi Toshiba Supreme Consortium to boost capacity.
THSRC Chairman Shih Che travelled to Japan to inspect and unveil the first trainset on April 30. Deliveries are scheduled to run from August 2026 through the end of 2028, with entry into service from August 2027.
THSRC currently operates a fleet of 34 N700T high speed trainsets based on Japan’s 700 Series design; 30 of these 12-car sets were delivered for the opening of the Taiwanese high speed line in 2007, and four more were ordered in 2012 and delivered in 2015 to accommodate growing ridership and the opening of new stations.
The NT$28bn order for the N700ST sets to increase capacity was placed in May 2023.
They will be 13 tonnes lighter and more aerodynamic than THSRC’s existing fleet, and the Chairman compared the design to a platypus, saying it would reduce noise and vibration, especially when it enters tunnels.
The trains have more advanced shock absorbers and noise reduction systems used on the similar models in service in Japan. Sinks, coat hooks and baby seats in the nursery rooms have been redesigned, and charging facilities provided. The number of spaces for wheelchair users has been increased to six and wheelchair-securing equipment has been added.