Hitachi Toshiba Supreme Consortium (HTSC), consisting of Hitachi, Ltd. (Hitachi), Toshiba Corporation (Toshiba) and Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation, has been awarded the order to build 12 sets of new generation high speed trains (144 cars) by Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC).
The contract is worth approximately 124 billion Japanese Yen (approximately £108 billion). HTSC will deliver the trains based on the most advanced N700S train of Central Japan Railway Company, with delivery to begin in 2026.
THSRC started 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 300-metre-length train will be put into operation at a maximum speed of 300km/h. The new high-speed train based on the N700S train will be lighter and have better aerodynamic performance compared with the existing 700T.
It will be energy efficient. 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 it at low speed in case of power outage.
Many people in Taiwan already use the reliable high speed railway, which has provided unparalleled safety and reliability to passengers for more than a decade. It is anticipated that introducing the new rolling stock will encourage even more people to make the modal shift to environmentally friendly high-speed railway.
Image credit: Hitachi Rail
