TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Railway Bureau said that Taiwan’s domestic production of railway components has risen from 30% in 2018 to over 40% this year, highlighting the country’s R&D achievements.

The bureau said Thursday that 12 domestic manufacturers were showcasing their self-developed components, including light-rail signals, switches, train doors, pantographs, and axle counters. The event drew more than 150 attendees, per CNA.

Bureau Director Yang Cheng-chun (楊正君) said the agency will expand its subsidy program next year to encourage manufacturers to develop components compatible with Taiwan’s railway and metro systems, while also strengthening the domestic supply chain.

Yang added that through 2030, the bureau will allocate NT$450 million (US$14.3 million) to support domestic railway and metro operators in developing smart rail systems and building cloud platforms. This is part of efforts to drive digital transformation in the transportation sector.

The Danhai Light Rail Transit vehicles are Taiwan’s first locally produced light rail trains, developed by Taiwan Rolling Stock Co. in collaboration with Germany’s Voith GmbH through technology transfer. The company also established a production line and a climate-controlled testing facility.  

In addition, the Industrial Technology Research Institute has developed an automated rail inspection module that uses locally made batteries and measurement technology to detect track defects. It has also developed an AI-driven obstacle detection system that identifies objects on the tracks to ensure operational safety.

Since 2021, China Steel Corp. has partnered with Taiwan High Speed Rail to develop maintenance and track inspection vehicles. The vehicles feature a high proportion of locally made components.