TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan High Speed Rail on Thursday began expanding its maintenance depot in Kaohsiung’s Yanchao District to meet the growing maintenance and repair needs of its fleet, CNA reported.
The depot is the core hub for inspection, maintenance, and assembly of THSR trains. The expansion project is being led by United Steel Engineering & Construction, a subsidiary of China Steel Corp., in partnership with three domestic engineering firms.
The project will include the construction of a new plant spanning more than 11,500 square meters and the installation of an automated warehousing system to increase storage capacity, THSR said. The plant will include energy-saving equipment and solar panels to support the company’s carbon reduction efforts.
A stacked parking area will also be added at the Kaohsiung depot. Existing facilities will be upgraded with elevated steel storage racks and new train inspection control rooms, THSR said.
At the groundbreaking ceremony for the project, China Steel President Chen Shou-dao (陳守道) highlighted the challenge of maintaining construction safety while keeping the depot operational. He said the expansion is scheduled to be completed before THSR puts its new trains into service in the second half of next year.
THSR President Chen Hui-Yu (陳惠裕) said the company carried more than 82 million passengers last year, setting a record. The firm has ordered 12 new N700ST trains from Japan, with the first batch expected to arrive in Taiwan in August.
The new trains will include full-color LCD displays, seats with charging ports, more wheelchair spaces, and expanded luggage racks. They will undergo testing before entering service. A full teardown and inspection is planned after one to two years of operation to ensure safety.
THSR is also expanding its depot in Kaohsiung’s Zuoying District, where trains are parked, cleaned, and maintained. The project, scheduled for completion next year, will increase the facility’s train parking capacity from 44 to 50.
