High-speed train consortium Hitachi Toshiba Supreme Consortium (HTSC) – which comprises digital and mobility solutions provider Hitachi, and industrial solutions provider Toshiba Corporation and its social infrastructure subsidiary Toshiba Infrastructure Systems and Solutions Corporation – has been awarded an order to build 12 sets of new-generation high-speed trains (144 cars) by the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC).
The contract is worth about ¥124-billion and HTSC will deliver the trains based on the most advanced N700S Shinkansen series available to the Central Japan Railway Company. Delivery will begin in 2026.
THSRC started operation of high-speed trains in 2007, between Taipei and Kaohsiung, by introducing Japanese Shinkansen system. The new trains will enhance the capacity of passenger services.
The 300-m-long train will be put into operation at maximum speed of 300 km/h. The new high-speed train will be lighter and have better aerodynamic performance, compared with the existing 700T train. It will be energy efficient through its adoption of a compact traction system combining silicon carbide device with a blower-less cooling system.
The new train will be equipped with lithium-ion batteries to power the train at low speed in case of power outage.
In Taiwan, many people are using the reliable high-speed railway adopting the technologies of Japanese Shinkansen, which has an unparalleled safety and reliability record. HTSC has the expectation that more people will select this environment-friendly high-speed railway option once the new rolling stock is introduced.