Spacia 101-1, a tourism express train owned by Japan’s Tobu Railway Corp, is to be on display at the Taipei Railway Station in December, Taiwan Railway Corp (TRC) said yesterday.
The exhibition is to be held on Dec. 18 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a friendship between the railway firms.
Manufactured since 1990, Spacia trains mainly operate in the Asakusa area, Nikko City and Kinugawa hot springs in Japan.
Photo courtesy of Taiwan Railway Corp
The train was created to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Toshogu Shrine, with its gold-and-red exterior reportedly being inspired by the Toshogu Shrine, the Futarasan Shrine and the Rinnoji Temple.
The train was the first produced by Tobu Railway for Spacia tourism express trains, TRC said.
“The locomotive’s first exhibition in Taiwan shows that the two railway firms value the importance of railway exchanges. It also symbolizes the commitment to continue the friendship through railways,” it added.
As TRC and Tobu Railway signed their friendship agreement on Dec. 18, 2015, they have initiated plans to boost visitors to the two railway systems, including jointly promoting and marketing the two railway systems and participating in the Formosa Railroad Bento Festival, the TRC said.
As Tobu Railway has extensive experience in managing its assets, including the Tobu Museum and Tokyo Sky Tree, the TRC plans to visit the Japanese railway’s headquarters and learn from it, it said, adding that both companies are seeking more opportunities for cooperation.
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