New EMU900 trains for Taiwan to increase capacity and improve comfort

To increase passenger capacity and replace existing older model trains, the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) has ordered 52 EMU commuter trains (520 cars), with a total cost of NT$25.3 billion, from Hyundai Rotem Co.

The TUV Rheinland is entrusted as our third-party Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) organisation to ensure the reliability, availability, maintainability and safety of the new EMU900 trains. The first batch will be delivered after the testing reports have been reviewed and approved by the IV&V organisation. Soon after, we will carry out a test run period before the trains are put into service. It is expected that the introduction of these new trains will increase our transport capacity and improve train service quality for our passengers.

Meeting demands

Each of the new EMU900 commuter trains, which consists of 10 carriages, will progressively replace our older EMU700 and EMU800 eight-car models. It is estimated that the EMU900 will increase the capacity by 40 per cent and meet the rising commuting demands on suburban lines during rush hour.

We recently conducted a trial run on a newly completed rail track to ensure the EMU900 cars can be successfully transported to the Hualian Rolling Stock Branch. After the delivery, there will be a three-month period of test runs before the trains are put into service. The other 50 EMU900 trains are scheduled for delivery between 2021 and 2023 and will be added to the system in succession.

The ‘most beautiful trains’

The EMU900 commuter trains, manufactured in Korea by Hyundai Rotem Co. and MBD Technologies (the design team of TGV, France’s inter-city high-speed trains), have been called the ‘most beautiful trains’ of all time.

Inspired by ‘A Smiling Welcome’, the trains are painted in silver and green, giving them a streamlined, futuristic appearance. The livery resembles a welcoming smile that greets our passengers every time they board the train.

The EMU900 commuter trains are also equipped with the Train Control and Management System (TCMS) which enables control and monitoring over sub-systems and functions, for instance, doors, brakes and video surveillance. TCMS can also adjust air-conditioning for individual or all cars, and it can monitor the fire alarm system, providing a safer and more comfortable experience for passengers.