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The first of 12 new-generation N700ST high speed trains for Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp by the Hitachi Toshiba Supreme Consortium have rolled out of the factory and are expected to arrive in Taiwan during August.
The consortium announced on July 30 that it had completed the manufacturing of the initial 12-car trainset at Hitachi’s Kasado Works. During a handover ceremony at the plant in Yamaguchi Prefecture, THSRC Chairman Shih Che said that the train would be shipped shortly and was scheduled to arrive in Taiwan next month, reported the Taipei Times.
Shih anticipates that the first trains will be ready to enter service next year, ahead of schedule. ‘Hopefully, all the required tests will be completed successfully before it can be officially launched on July 1′, he said. Entry into service was originally planned to start in August 2027.
THSRC ordered the 12 trainsets in May 2023 at a cost of NT$28bn. Deliveries were scheduled to run through the end of 2028, although it is now envisaged that all 12 will have been delivered by September of that year.
The ceremony was also attended by Hitachi Rail group CEO Giuseppe Marino, Japanese deputy transport minister Hajime Sasaki and Taiwan’s transport minister Chen Shih-kai, who posted a video of the event.
Shinkansen derivativeThe N700ST is based on the latest Series N700S Shinkansen trainsets used in Japan. It features a streamlined nose, which the THSRC Chairman had earlier compared to that of a platypus. The trains will be finished in a predominantly white livery with orange and black lining echoing the livery of the existing Series 700T trainsets.
The trains will operate at a maximum speed of 300 km/h. The traction system incorporates silicon carbide devices and a blower-less cooling system, helping to reduce energy consumption while making the equipment smaller and lighter.
Interior
Interior of the N700ST high speed trainset for Taiwan. © image: Hitachi / Toshiba
Inside the Standard Car, the seats feature a seat cushion that lowers as the seat reclines. The Business Car is styled to offer a ‘refined’ atmosphere using a grey colour scheme and wrap-around seats. Accessibility is also improved through the provision of six wheelchair spaces and upgraded nursing rooms.
The trains are also equipped with a Toshiba lithium-ion battery storage system, enabling them to operate at low speeds in the event of a power failure. This will allow THSCR to move the trains to a safe location during unforeseen events such as an earthquake. It will also support auxiliary systems such as the onboard lighting and toilets.
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