HITACHI AND TOSHIBA WIN ORDER TO BUILD HIGH-SPEED TRAINS FOR TAIWAN

Hitachi Toshiba Supreme Consortium (HTSC) has been awarded the order to build 12 sets of new-generation high-speed trains (144 cars) by the Taiwan High-Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC).

THSRC started the operation of high-speed trains in 2007 between Taipei and Kaohsiung introducing the Japanese Shinkansen system. The new trains will enhance the capacity of passenger services.

The 300m-long train will be put into operation at a maximum speed of 300km/h. The new high-speed train based on N700S will be lighter and have better aerodynamic performance compared with the existing 700T. It will be energy efficient by adopting the compact traction system combining a silicon carbide (SiC) device with a blower-less cooling system. The new train will be equipped with lithium-ion batteries (SCiBTM) to power the train at low speed in case of a power outage.

In Taiwan, many people are using the reliable high-speed railway adopting the technologies of the Japanese Shinkansen which has proven unparalleled safety and reliability. More people are expected to select environmentally friendly high-speed railways as a result of introducing new rolling stock.