One new high-speed rail (HSR) train is undergoing testing, with three expected to enter service in July next year and all 12 expected to be in service by the end of 2028, the Railway Bureau said today.
Over the long weekend for the Mid-Autumn Festival and Teacher’s Day from Thursday last week through Monday, the HSR carried 1,788,815 passengers, including 347,970 on the Thursday alone.
Passengers with reserved seats reportedly faced such heavy crowds that some nearly could not board, while business-class passengers said that people from non-reserved cars spilled into their carriages.
Photo: CNA
Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp has purchased 12 next-generation N700ST train sets from Japan. The first set arrived on Aug. 15 and is undergoing testing.
The second and third train sets are expected to arrive in Taiwan next month and in January next year, respectively, Railway Bureau director-general Yang Cheng-chun (楊正君) said.
The first train has been assembled and is undergoing static testing, followed by dynamic testing, Yang said, adding that 69 tests are required.
Testing of the first train is expected to be completed by late April next year, he said, adding that the tests are necessary to gain approval from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) before the train can enter service.
The first three trains are expected to enter service simultaneously in July next year, Yang said, adding that they would gradually improve capacity, but a significant improvement might not be felt until all 12 train sets are in service.
The remaining nine trains are expected to enter service by the end of 2028, increasing capacity across the network and improving passenger services, Yang said.
The 12 new trains would expand Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp’s fleet to 46 train sets, boosting peak capacity by up to 25 percent, while three sets are expected to increase capacity by about 6 to 7 percent.
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