TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Metro’s first new high-capacity train arrived at Taipei Port on Tuesday, the first of 10 trains bought to support network expansion and meet rising passenger demand.
The train left Masan Port in South Korea on Saturday and traveled about 1,200 kilometers by sea, CNA reported. Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation said the cars will be moved to Beitou Depot after customs checks.
South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem won the contract to supply the trains. Each six-car train costs about NT$590 million (US$18.2 million), per Knews.
Each car was wrapped to protect its electrical and mechanical systems from salt, humidity, and movement during shipping. After packaging, each car is about 24 meters long, 3.6 meters wide, and 3.6 meters high, while the heaviest car weighs about 42 tonnes, per UDN.
Taipei Metro said the cars need special trailers for the trip to Beitou Depot. Workers checked the route in advance and planned the move for late at night to reduce traffic disruption.
Once the train arrives at the depot, technical teams will connect and assemble the cars. Taipei Metro will then test its functions, movement inside the depot, mainline operation, and compatibility with existing signal, power, and track systems before the train enters service in mid-2027, per CTS News.
The company said the train will also run without passengers during off-peak hours before entering service. It will begin carrying passengers only after meeting safety and performance standards.
The new trains have bench-style seating to give passengers more room to move through the cars. They also have upgraded passenger information and driving control systems.
