THSRC New Train Countdown: 50 Days to Rollout, Japanese Firm Conducts Full System Integration Test

Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) announced on Facebook on the 11th that the first new-generation N700ST train set has 50 days until rollout. The second unit (cars 5-8) has arrived at Kasadō Island in Yamaguchi Prefecture from Aichi Prefecture after a journey by land and sea. It will now be coupled with the first and third units for full system integration testing before rollout.

THSRC has ordered 12 new-generation N700ST train sets from Japan. After the full system integration test is completed, the first train is expected to roll out by the end of July and be shipped to Taiwan by mid-August.

The N700ST consists of 12 cars divided into three units (Unit 1: cars 1-4, Unit 2: cars 5-8, Unit 3: cars 9-12), manufactured by Hitachi and Nippon Sharyo. Unit 2, which includes business class and accessible cars, is built by Nippon Sharyo, Japan's oldest rolling stock manufacturer.

THSRC posted on its official Facebook page titled "A giant beast moves secretly in the dead of night," sharing a 58-second video revealing the transportation process of the second unit. The video shows the unit moving slowly on highways in the dead of night, sailing 600 kilometers by sea from Aichi Prefecture to Kasadō Island in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and includes the first-ever footage of the onboard crane operation.

THSRC explained that after the second unit of the first N700ST rolled out in May, it embarked on a long journey involving crane lifting, land transport, and sea transport, taking over 30 hours to finally arrive at Kasadō Island. It will now be coupled with the first and third units for full system integration testing before rollout.

THSRC officially announced the 50-day countdown to the N700ST rollout. According to THSRC's previous plan, all new trains will be fully operational by the end of 2028. Chairman Shih Che revealed at the shareholders' meeting that the first new train is expected to enter service in July 2026.