THSR officially unveils Taiwan’s new N700ST Shinkansen trains

Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) has unveiled its first new N700ST Shinkansen trainsets, marking the first addition to its fleet in 22 years. Over the past few months, social media posts had already shown individual components being transported by road. For this journey, the N700ST cars are fitted with temporary rubber-tired bogies and effectively roll through Taiwan while being towed by a truck before they are placed on the tracks. Formally, however, the train shown is the second unit, which left Japan on May 19, while THSR is now celebrating the delivery of the first train.

The twelve new trains are being supplied by Hitachi and Toshiba through the Hitachi Toshiba Supreme Consortium. The first is scheduled to arrive at the Port of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan on August 15. THSR operates two major depots near Kaohsiung, as shown on OpenRailwayMap.

The upgrades include improved accommodations for families, particularly those with very young children, as well as more wheelchair spaces. Each train can now accommodate six wheelchairs. The trains are also expected to run more quietly, although the older N700T units are already very quiet. Efficiency improvements have also been promised.

Following an extensive testing phase, the first trains are expected to enter service on July 1, 2027. THSR expects the additional rolling stock to allow it to expand service. The trains will operate between Taipei Nangang, near the exhibition center, and Kaohsiung. The route is sometimes loosely referred to as the "Silicon Island Artery" because of the many technology companies along the corridor, particularly those in the semiconductor industry. The new trains will also provide capacity for extensions to the north of the country. That project was recently granted official approval.

The system is already operating at its limits due to a shortage of rolling stock. This makes spontaneous travel somewhat more difficult, even though THSR's distinctive Bluetooth QR code ticketing system otherwise makes it very easy, including for tourists. The rail infrastructure itself still has sufficient capacity because it was built with future demand in mind.

Taiwan is one of the few countries to use Japanese Shinkansen technology for its high-speed rail system. Built entirely from scratch, the network operates on dedicated tracks and uses high platforms, allowing passengers to board without climbing steps. Ramps are also unnecessary inside the trains when passing over the bogies.

India will be the next country to build a high-speed rail network using Shinkansen trains. Track construction is already making significant progress, although the start of operations will be delayed. The route will initially open in sections. Vietnam is also currently building a high-speed rail network, but it will use Velaro high-speed trains from Siemens Mobility.