TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation unveiled its new Japan-made N700ST train Thursday, 100 days before delivery of the first set.
The company has ordered 12 sets from the Hitachi Toshiba Supreme Consortium, scheduled to arrive in Taiwan from August 2026 through the end of 2028. The first trains will enter service in August 2027.
In a Facebook post, THSRC Chair Shih Che (史哲) compared the new train’s look to a platypus. The design contributes to a 3-decibel reduction in noise and less vibration, the Liberty Times reported.
The new train is more aerodynamic, a change especially noticeable when it enters tunnels, according to Shih. The N700ST is also 13 metric tons lighter than its 700T predecessor.
The trains will boost peak travel capacity by 25%. The price tag for the 12 train sets was NT$25.8 billion (US$815 million).
