Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has announced that it has received an order for the expansion of the vehicle depot at Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR). The project, which includes the expansion of the maintenance workshop at the Zuoying Depot, aims to support the increasing number of vehicles as part of THSR's plans to accommodate the rising number of passengers.
Overview of the Project:
- Facility Involved: Maintenance workshop at Zuoying Depot
- Main Tasks:
- Design, supply, and installation of track, catenary, electrical, and signal systems
- New construction and renovations
Taiwan High-Speed Rail’s Current Situation:
- Route Overview:
- The line runs from Nangang Station (Taipei) to Zuoying Station (Kaohsiung), covering approximately 349 km
- Opened in 2007
- Operating Vehicles:
- The 700T series, based on Japan’s 700 series Shinkansen, has been in operation since the launch
- Passenger Growth:
- First year of operation (2007): Around 15 million passengers
- 2023: Approximately 73 million passengers (5 times increase)
- Cumulative passengers: Over 800 million
- Vehicle Upgrades and Expansion:
- New N700S-based trains are scheduled for introduction
- The development of the new trains is based on the N700S Shinkansen design from JR Tokai
- The order has been placed with a joint venture of Hitachi and Toshiba for 144 units (12-car trains × 12 sets)
Role of Zuoying Depot:
The Zuoying Depot serves as the main hub for vehicle maintenance for THSR. The expansion of the maintenance workshop is aimed at improving efficiency in vehicle maintenance and supporting the growth in fleet size.
