Taiwan High Speed Rail

Fast trains run in Taiwan.

They go from the north to the south. These trains move very fast. They help people travel quickly.

One trip can take less than two hours. The trains use special technology from Japan. They help keep the air clean. This is because they use less energy than cars.

Many people ride these trains every day. It is a great way to see the land.

Taiwan has a fast train system called the Taiwan High Speed Rail.

This single line runs along the western coast of the island. It travels from Taipei in the north to Kaohsiung in the south. The trains use technology from Japan called Shinkansen.

One trip from Nangang to Zuoying can take just 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Many people use these trains to travel. In 2013, over 129,000 people rode the train every day. By 2016, more than 400 million people had used the system. The trains are better for the Earth than cars. A full train uses much less power than private cars. It also lets out less carbon dioxide.

The company uses special trains called 700T. These trains have 12 cars. They can carry 989 people at once. The company is now getting new trains. They are called N700ST. These new trains should arrive in 2026. They will help even more people travel fast.

The Taiwan High Speed Rail is a very fast train network.

It follows a single line along the western coast of Taiwan. This line connects the city of Taipei in the north to Kaohsiung in the south. This system helps people move quickly across the island. It is important because it helps reduce traffic on highways and roads.

Traveling by these trains can save a lot of energy. A full train uses only 16% of the energy that private cars use. It also produces much less carbon dioxide than cars or buses.

The trains work using special technology from Japan called Shinkansen.

The main trains are called 700T trainsets. Each train has 12 cars that carry 989 passengers. These cars are split into two types of seating. There are 66 seats in the Business Car. There are 923 seats in the eleven Standard Cars. The trains use power from three traction units. These units help the long train move at high speeds. The nose of the train is shaped specially to fit through tunnels.

Planning for this rail line began a long time ago. People first thought about it in the 1970s. In 1987, the government asked for a study to see if it would work. This study was finished in 1990. It showed that high-speed rail would use less land and cause less pollution. The company that runs the trains is called THSRC. They were chosen to build the line in 1997. Construction officially started in March 1999. The railway finally opened for service on 5 January 2007.

Many people use this railway every single day. In the first few months, fewer than 40,000 people rode it daily. By June 2013, that number grew to over 129,000 people. By December 2016, the system had carried more than 400 million passengers.

The company also uses special trains to keep the tracks safe. They use an old Shinkansen car to check the space around the tracks.

They also use locomotives like the DD16 to move trains around.

The rail system is still growing and changing. The line was extended from Taipei to Nangang in July 2016.

New plans aim to extend the line to Yilan by 2030. There is also a plan to extend the tracks to Pingtung. Another plan is to move the line through the center of Kaohsiung. New trains called N700ST are also coming soon. These new trains were ordered from companies like Hitachi and Toshiba. The first new trains should arrive in Taiwan in August 2026.

The Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) is a massive high-speed railway network.

It consists of a single line running along the western coast of Taiwan. This line connects Taipei in the north to Kaohsiung in the south. The system is vital for reducing congestion on highways and conventional rail lines. It provides a fast way to move many people across the western transport corridor. The network was managed and is operated by the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC).

The technology used for the THSR is primarily based on the Japanese Shinkansen system. The main trains used are the THSR 700T trainsets.

Each 12-car trainset is divided into three traction units. These units consist of three power cars and one trailer each. This setup provides 10,000 kW of power to move the heavy train. The nose of the 700T is specially shaped for Taiwan's geography. This design helps the train move through tunnels more easily. The maximum service speed of these trains is 300 km/h.

Passenger capacity is carefully organized within the 700T trainsets. Each train can carry a total of 989 seats. There are two distinct classes of service available to travelers. The single Business Car offers 66 seats in a 2+2 configuration. The eleven Standard Cars provide 923 seats in a 2+3 configuration. This high capacity makes the rail system very efficient for mass transit. A fully loaded 700T train is much greener than other transport. Its energy consumption is only 16% of a private car. Its carbon dioxide emissions are just 11% of a private car.

The history of the project began due to rapid economic growth in Taiwan. This growth caused heavy traffic in the western transport corridor. In 1987, the Executive Yuan ordered a feasibility study for a rail line. The study was finished in 1990 and recommended high-speed rail. It found that rail offered the highest transit volume and lowest land use. The project used a build-operate-transfer (BOT) business model. This meant a private company would build and run the system. THSRC was chosen as the preferred bidder in September 1997. Construction officially began in March 1999.

The financial history of the THSRC involved significant challenges and changes. In the early years, the company accumulated high debts. This was due to high interest and depreciation charges. In 2009, the company negotiated a new deal with the government. The government provided a NT$30 billion financial bailout to help. This increased the government's stake from 37% to about 64%. The government also extended the rail concession from 35 to 70 years. This change helped the company remain operational and profitable. Ridership eventually grew to meet the needs of the region.

Daily ridership numbers show how important the system has become. In the first few months, fewer than 40,000 passengers rode daily. By June 2013, daily ridership grew to over 129,000 passengers.

By December 2016, the system had carried over 400 million passengers. The system is also expanding to reach more people. The line was extended to Nangang in July 2016.

A planned extension to Yilan is expected to open by 2030. There are also plans to extend the line to Pingtung.

Maintenance of the tracks is a complex and constant task. THSRC uses several specialized engineering trains to keep the line safe.

They use locomotives like the JNR Class DD16 for shunting tasks.

A former 0 Series Shinkansen car is used as a test car.

This car checks the clearance around the tracks. They also use specialized machines for grinding rails and tamping tracks. New N700ST series trains are also being ordered to meet demand. These new trains were ordered from Hitachi and Toshiba. They are expected to enter service in the second half of 2027.