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Taiwan to get new 300 kmph bullet train based on Japan’s Shinkansen technology
Taiwan is set to introduce a new 300 kmph bullet train based on Japan's Shinkansen technology, aiming to enhance high-speed rail capacity, efficiency and passenger comfort.
Taiwan's new 300 kmph bullet train will be based on Japan's Shinkansen technology to strengthen the high-speed rail network. (Image: HTSC/Enhanced using AI)
Taiwan to get new bullet train: Taiwan is set to introduce a new 300 kmph bullet trains based on Japan’s Shinkansen technology, marking a major upgrade to its high-speed rail network. The new trains are expected to improve operational efficiency, passenger comfort and overall rail capacity.
Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) began operating bullet train system between Taipei and Kaohsiung in 2007. The new N700ST bullet trains will further enhance passenger capacity and improve services on the route. The contract for supplying the new bullet trains is valued at around 124 billion Japanese yen.
Manufactured by the Japan-based Hitachi Toshiba Supreme Consortium (HTSC), the first batch of N700ST bullet trains has been completed and shipped from Hitachi’s Kasado Works in Japan to Taiwan. The initial delivery includes one 12-car trainset, part of an order for 12 trainsets (144 cars) for Taiwan’s high-speed rail network.
The new rolling stock is based on the N700S Shinkansen, the latest bullet train model operated by Central Japan Railway Company. It has been designed to meet the operational requirements of Taiwan’s high-speed rail system.
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Each N700ST bullet train is approximately 300-m-long and is designed to operate at a maximum commercial speed of 300 kmph. According to HTSC, the bullet train’s aerodynamic front design helps reduce air resistance when entering tunnels. It also features an advanced traction system that makes the equipment smaller, lighter and more energy-efficient, helping lower power consumption.
“The trains are equipped with a self-propelled battery system using Toshiba’s lithium -ion batteries “SCiB ™” as a backup power source in the event of a power outage. The system can either move the trains at low speed to a safe location or keep onboard facilities such as lighting and restrooms operational,” it said.
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World · Asia · Transport
Inside Taiwan's new 300 km/h bullet train
Taiwan High Speed Rail's first N700ST trainset — derived from Japan's latest N700S Shinkansen — has shipped from Japan, ahead of a full 12-train rollout by the end of 2028.
300 km/h
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Top specs
300 km/h
Maximum commercial speed
N700ST
Model — based on Japan's N700S Shinkansen
12
Cars per trainset (~300 m long)
12
Trainsets ordered — 144 cars in all
Hitachi & Toshiba
Builder (HTSC) · ordered May 2023
By end-2028
Full fleet in commercial service
Contract worth about ¥124bn (~$898m). Illustration is schematic, not to scale.
Key features
1
Aerodynamic “platypus” nose — the streamlined front cuts tunnel-entry pressure and air resistance.
2
Battery backup — Toshiba's SCiB lithium-ion system can inch the train to safety or keep lights and toilets running during a power outage.
3
Energy-efficient traction — silicon-carbide (SiC) power devices with blower-less cooling cut size, weight and power use.
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~25% more peak capacity — the bigger fleet lets THSR run more frequent services at busy times.
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Upgraded passenger comfort — refreshed interiors for the island's busiest corridor.
Taiwan's new train vs India's first bullet train
Taiwan
India
Train
N700ST (from N700S Shinkansen)
E10 Shinkansen (next-gen)
Top speed
300 km/h
Up to 320 km/h (350 design)
Corridor
Taipei–Kaohsiung (~350 km)
Mumbai–Ahmedabad (508 km)
Status
1st train delivered; service by end-2028
Under construction; 1st section 2027
India's choice was updated in 2025 from the E5 to the next-generation E10 Shinkansen (early 2030s); an Indian-built trainset is set to run the initial Surat–Bilimora section from 2027. Both projects use Japanese technology.
The route
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Nangang(Taipei)
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Taichung
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Chiayi
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Tainan
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Zuoying(Kaohsiung)
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Runs on Taiwan's north-south high-speed corridor down the island's west coast, linking Taipei and Kaohsiung in about 1.5–2 hours.
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The line carried a record 82 million passenger journeys in 2025 (about 225,000 a day) — the reason for the extra fleet.
Intermediate stops shown are indicative; the line serves several west-coast stations between the two termini.
From launch to new fleet
2007
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Taiwan High Speed Rail launches, running Japanese-built 700T trainsets.
2023
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May: THSRC orders 12 N700ST trainsets from the Hitachi Toshiba consortium.
2026
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July: the first 12-car trainset ships from Hitachi's Kasado Works, arriving in Taiwan in August.
2028
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By end-2028: all 12 trainsets enter commercial service.
Evolution of Taiwan's bullet trains
700T
2007 · based on 700 series
→
N700ST
2028 · based on N700S
What's improved
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Better energy efficiency — SiC traction and blower-less cooling.
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Battery backup for power outages.
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~25% more peak capacity and improved aerodynamics.
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Top speed is unchanged at 300 km/h — the gains are efficiency, capacity and resilience, not a faster train.
Sources: International Railway Journal · Railway Gazette · Global Railway Review · Railway-News · Hitachi/Toshiba & THSRC announcements. India comparison: Indian Railways / Ministry of Railways statements. Figures as reported; a developing rollout.
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Inside the design of Taiwan’s new bullet train
According to HTSC, the new bullet train will feature white front-end design with orange accents, representing Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation’s (THSRC) corporate colour. It will also retain the signature black stripe used on the existing 700T trains.
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In the interior, the Standard Car seats will continue to use colours inspired by the 700T trainsets, while the Business Car will feature a grey colour scheme to offer a more premium travel experience.
New-Generation High-Speed Train: Design & Features
Exterior Design
White front-end
Orange (THSRC corporate colour)
Black line (continuity with 700T)
A predominantly white design combined with orange, symbolizing a bright future, preserves continuity with the 700T while expressing the innovation and speed of a new-generation train.
Interior & Passenger Comfort Features
Reclining Seats
Standard Car seat cushion lowers as the seat reclines.
Wraparound Seats
Business Car features a gray colour scheme with wraparound seating.
Full-Active Suspension
Significantly reduces vibration for a smoother ride.
Power Outlets
Available at every seat throughout the train.
Full-Colour LCD Displays
Two-tier display improves readability of train info & next-stop announcements.
More Luggage Storage
Storage capacity improved with luggage areas throughout the train.
Upgraded Nursing Rooms
Equipped with washbasin, coat hook and baby seat.
More Wheelchair Spaces
Additional spaces compared to current trainsets, enhancing accessibility.
Source: THSRC
Commercial operations of Taiwan’s new bullet train
According to HTSC, all 12 trainsets (144 cars) are expected to enter commercial service by the end of 2028. The new bullet trains will run between Nangang Station in Taipei and Zuoying Station in Kaohsiung, serving Taiwan’s main north-south high-speed rail corridor.
The company said the new trains are expected to increase passenger carrying capacity by around 25 per cent during peak travel periods by allowing more train services to operate.
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