Taiwan High Speed Rail

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Taiwan High Speed Rail
Logo
System map
Reporting marks THSR
Locale Taiwan proper
Dates of operation 1998–present
Track gauge 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) Standard gauge
Length 335.5 km
Headquarters Taipei, Taiwan
Taiwan High Speed Rail
Traditional Chinese: 台灣高速鐵路 or
臺灣高速鐵路
THSR
Traditional Chinese: 台灣高鐵 or 臺灣高鐵

The Taiwan High Speed Rail (traditional Chinese: 台灣高速鐵路, also known as the THSR) is a high-speed rail network that runs along the west coast of Taiwan. It is approximately 335.50 kilometers (208 mi), and runs from Taipei City to Kaohsiung City. It began operation on January 5, 2007.

Adopting Japan's Shinkansen technology for the core system, the THSR uses the Taiwan High Speed 700T train, which was manufactured by a consortium of Japanese companies, most notably Kawasaki Heavy Industries[1]. The total cost of the project is currently estimated to be US$15 billion,[2] and is one of the largest privately funded transport schemes to date. Express trains capable of traveling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph)[3] travel from Taipei City to Kaohsiung City in roughly 90 minutes as opposed to 4.5 hours by conventional rail[4], although local service THSR trains take approximately two hours when stopping at all stations en route. Currently, the CEO of Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. is Nita Ing (殷琪).

Contents

[edit] History

THSR trains on a test run in June 2006.
THSR trains on a test run in June 2006.

Although planning began as early as 1980, the first plans for a high speed rail line linking the cities of Taipei and Kaohsiung were proposed in a Ministry of Transportation study in 1990. [5] They were then approved by the Executive Yuan in 1992 and the Legislative Yuan in 1993. The decision to pursue a Build-Operate-Transfer method was also approved. After a prolonged bidding process, the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) was formally established in May 1998.

The European InterCityExpress (ICE) was initially selected to form the core system of THSR; however, in 1998 the Eschede train disaster on the ICE, in which more than one hundred people died and another hundred were severely injured, combined with the Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan on 21 September 1999, led planners to choose Japan's Shinkansen technology instead of ICE due to Shinkansen's "UrEDAS" (Urgent Earthquake Detection and Alarm System, ja:ユレダス) earthquake detection system, developed in 1992.

Actual construction began in March 2000 and running tests started in January 2005. In late October 2005, Taiwan High Speed Rail passed its targeted speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) to 315 km/h (197 mph) during testing.

Trial runs between Banciao (Taipei) and Zuoying (Kaohsiung), opened to the public on January 5, 2007.[6] The HSR platforms at Taipei Main Station opened on March 2, 2007.[7], bringing the entire line into operation.

Some of the same Japanese companies won another project in December 2005 to build a high speed rail link to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, with the exception of the signaling system which has been awarded to Westinghouse Rail Systems.

[edit] Controversy

A THSR 700T train.
A THSR 700T train.

Critics point out that the project costs $15 billion, or about $650 for every man, woman and child on Taiwan. [5] Funded by private means, it is billed as the largest Build-Operate-Transfer project in known history, but the development corporation THSRC consistently failed to meet its funding targets on time. The project has also been dogged by allegations of poor quality construction, claims of unresolved safety concerns (due to three derailments during the tests in early November 2006) by THSRC oppositions, and the one year long delay. [8].

Supporters of the project believe THSR will help relieve traffic congestion along the heavily traveled western corridor, while having the advantages of greater safety, high transit volume, low land occupancy, energy economy and low pollution. For example, The New York Times reported, "Passengers who travel on a fully loaded train will use only a sixth of the energy they would use if they drove alone in a car and will release only one-ninth as much carbon dioxide, the main gas linked to global warming." [5]

As of March 2008, the THSR employed 54 Taiwanese drivers and 35 from overseas, most of whom were French nationals. A pressing problem in the future will be training and hiring sufficient drivers. The THSR estimates it will need about 100 Taiwanese drivers to reach its target of round-trips. [9]

Despite pre-opening doubts, the rail line has reduced much of the Western Taiwan domestic air traffic due to its popularity.

[edit] Services

All trains stop at Taipei, Banciao and Taichung stations, but there are several service patterns for other stations. [10]

  • Train numbers 1xx: Taipei to Zuoying, stops at Banciao, Taichung only
  • Train numbers 2xx: Taipei to Zuoying, stops at Banciao, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan
  • Train numbers 3xx: Taipei to Zuoying, stops at Banciao, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung
  • Train numbers 4xx: Taipei to Zuoying, stops at all stations, local service.
  • Train numbers 5xx: Taipei to Taichung, stops at all intermediate stations, local service.

Economy and business classes compartments are available aboard each train, with the latter offering wider seating, individual audio entertainment systems and power outlets for portable electronics in each seat.[11]

The system's operating hours are from 6:00AM to 12:00 midnight. [12]

[edit] Ridership

Economy class riders on a northbound train.
Economy class riders on a northbound train.

Original estimates foresaw an initial daily ridership of 180,000, which would grow to 400,000 by 2036.[13] The initial ridership estimate was later reduced to 140,000 per day[14]. The system marked two highs on April 6, 2008, the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday, when they transported 132,000 passengers and operated 130 trains. [15]

However, operation of high-speed service did not start at full capacity: train frequency was to be ramped up from an initial 19 per direction per day to 61 per direction per day during 2007, and to 88 per direction per day by March 2008. In 2007, the number of daily train pairs was increased from 19 to 25 in April, to 31 in June, to 37 in July[16], to 45 in September[17], to 56 in November[18], and to 63 by December. A further increase to 70 pairs per day will take effect on July 4, 2008.[19]

On June 3, 2007, there were 5 million cumulative passengers[20], and on September 26, 2007, the 10 millionth passenger boarded.[21]. In the month of September 2007, THSRC carried 1.5 million passengers[21], growing further to 1.66 million in November and 2 million in December 2007[22], the latter translating to about 65,000 passengers daily.

In the first year of operation, until December 31, 2007, THSRC's trains were 99.46% on-time, and carried 15.55 million passengers.[23]

[edit] Revenue

The operational break-even level of NT$1 billion[24] was reached in April[25]. In the first nine months, revenue was NT$9.19 billion, and THSRC expects to become profitable by 2009.[26]

January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007
NT$598 million NT$670 million NT$870 million NT$1.03 billion NT$1.15 billion[27]

In its first year, THSRC made revenues of NT$14 billion by selling 15.79 million tickets. With more circulations and a seat occupation increased from 44.72% in 2007 to around 60%, THSRC expects to double its revenue in 2008[28].

[edit] Stations

Taiwan High Speed Rail
km
extKBFa
0.0 Nangang
txKBFa
9.7 Taipei
tBHF
17.5 Banciao
tBHF
42.2 Taoyuan
TUNNELe
ELEVa
BHF-ELEV
72.1 Hsinchu
eBHF-ELEV
104.8 Miaoli
BHF-ELEV
165.7 Taichung
eBHF-ELEV
193.8 Changhua
eBHF-ELEV
218.4 Yunlin
BHF-ELEV
251.5 Chiayi
BHF-ELEV
313.8 Tainan
ELEVe
xKBFe
345.2 Zuoying
exTUNNELa
extKBFe
Kaohsiung

Thirteen Taiwan High Speed Rail stations were planned in the western corridor, with eight stations already open in Taipei, Banciao, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan and Zuoying. Five more stations (in Nangang, Miaoli, Changhua, Yunlin and Kaohsiung) will be built in future years.

Station distance(km) stopping pattern connection location
Nangang (future) 0.0 Taiwan Railway Administration - Western Line
Taipei Rapid Transit System - Bannan Line		 Taipei City Nangang district
Taipei 9.7 ● ● ● ● ● Taiwan Railway Administration - Western Line (Taipei Main Station)
Taipei Rapid Transit System - Danshui Line, Bannan Line, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT System		 Zhongzheng District
Banciao 17.5 ● ● ● ● ● Taiwan Railway Administration
Taipei Rapid Transit System - Banciao Line, Circular Line		 Taipei County Banciao City
Taoyuan 42.2 ｜ ｜ ● ● ● Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT System
Taoyuan MRT System - Blue Line (under construction)		 Taoyuan County Jhongli City
Hsinchu 72.1 ｜ ｜ ● ● ● Taiwan Railway Administration - Lìujiā Line (tentative) Hsinchu County Jhubei City
Miaoli (future) 104.8 ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ Taiwan Railway Administration - Taichung Line (Fongfu) Miaoli County Howlong Town
Taichung 165.7 ● ● ● ● ● Taiwan Railway Administration - Western Line (New Wurih Station)
Taichung Metropolitan Area MRT System - Green Line (planned)		 Taichung County Wurih Town
Changhua (future) 193.8 ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ Taiwan Railway Administration - Western Line (New Tianjhong Station) Changhua County Tiánjhong Town
Yunlin (future) 218.4 ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ Yunlin County Huwei Town
Chiayi 251.5 ｜ ● ｜ ● Chiayi Bus Rapid Transit Chiayi County Taibao City
Tainan 313.8 ｜ ● ｜ ● Taiwan Railway Administration - Shālún Line (tentative) Tainan County Gueiren Town
Zuoying 345.2 ● ● ● ● Taiwan Railway Administration - Western Line (New Zuoying Station)
Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit - Red Line		 Kaohsiung City Zuoying District
Kaohsiung (future) Taiwan Railway Administration - Western Line, Pingtung Line
Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit - Red Line, Green Line (Light Rail)		 Sanmin District

[edit] Depiction in train simulators

A Taiwan High Speed Rail simulator, known as Railfan: Taiwan High Speed Rail, was developed by Taiwan-based company Actainment and produced by the Japanese publisher Ongakukan in 2007. The software was released on the PlayStation 3 system in Asia (Hong Kong, Taiwan & Singapore) and later in Japan as part of the popular Train Simulator series.

[edit] Gallery

[edit] Trains

Interior of an Economy class car.

Interior of a Business class car.

Train pulling into THSR Taichung Station.

Handicapped seating.

[edit] Stations

THSR Hsinchu Station.

THSR Taichung Station at night.

Northbound platform at THSR Taichung Station.

Southbound platform at THSR Taichung Station.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kawasaki Heavy Industries (2004-01-30). "New High Speed 700T for Taiwan Unveiled at Rollout Ceremony". Press release. Retrieved on 2006-04-21.
  2. ^ Plan Overview. Taiwan High Speed Rail. Retrieved on 2006-05-19.
  3. ^ [http://www.tunnels.mottmac.com/projects/?mode=region&id=3377 Taiwan High Speed Rail Link - Mott MacDonald Project Page}
  4. ^ Transportation. A Brief Introduction to Taiwan. ROC Government Information Office. Retrieved on 2006-05-19.
  5. ^ a b c Bradsher, Keith. "Taiwan’s Bullet Trains Can’t Outrun Controversy", The New York Times, January 04, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-04-24. 
  6. ^ Taiwan's high-speed rail system to start trial services next week. Retrieved on 2006-12-28.
  7. ^ Taiwan 'Shinkansen' debuts. Yomiuri Shimbun. Retrieved on 2007-01-06.
  8. ^ Shan, Shelley. "Kuo sets deadline for inspection", The Taipei Times, May 4, 2006, pp. 2. 
  9. ^ TSUYOSHI, NOJIMA. "In Taiwan, change comes speedily", Asahi Shimbun, March 18, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-28. 
  10. ^ THSR Timetable, effective November 9, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-05.
  11. ^ Business Class. Taiwan High Speed Rail. Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
  12. ^ Shan, Shelley. "High speed rail should review service: bureau", Taipei Times - archives, Apr 23, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-24. 
  13. ^ "High-speed rail bidders confident", Taiwan Journal, 1997-05-09. Retrieved on 2007-07-13. 
  14. ^ "High-speed rail to give birth to new towns", Taiwan Journal, 2004-07-23. Retrieved on 2007-07-13. 
  15. ^ "HSR passenger volume hits record new high", The China Post, April 08, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-24. 
  16. ^ "台灣高鐵7月27日起增班為每日單向37班並延長售票時間。", THSRC, 2007-07-11. Retrieved on 2007-07-13. (Chinese) 
  17. ^ "台灣高鐵自9月14日起進行增班：北上46班、南下45班之詳細資訊", THSRC, 2007-09-03. Retrieved on 2007-10-30. (Chinese) 
  18. ^ High-speed rail may run like MRT soon - The China Post
  19. ^ http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/%20business/2008/05/31/158867/THSRC%2Dto.htm
  20. ^ "THSRC sees 5 millionth passenger", The China Post, 2007-06-04. Retrieved on 2007-07-13. 
  21. ^ a b Taipei Times - archives
  22. ^ Taipei Times - archives
  23. ^ "台灣高鐵去年1月5日通車試營運以來，截至12月31日為止，總共發出24,400班次列車，平均準點率99.46％，累計實際載客人次逾1,555萬，2007年12月旅運人次更首次突破200萬。", THSRC, 2008-01-04. Retrieved on 2008-01-19. (Chinese) 
  24. ^ "THSRC runs in red during first 2 months of operations", The China Post, 2007-03-13. Retrieved on 2007-07-13. 
  25. ^ "THSRC April revenue exceeds NT$1 bil.", The China Post, 2007-05-11. Retrieved on 2007-07-13. 
  26. ^ Taipei Times - archives
  27. ^ Taipei Times - archives
  28. ^ Taipei Times - archives

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links

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