Using technology success in Japan on Taiwan's high speed rail

We were quite amazed by the quality and speed of the High Speed Rail (HSR) in Taiwan. Each HSR train rolls out twelve cars, reaching speeds of 300 kph / 186 mph. Though there is controversy that this Taiwan HSR is a white elephant (there is no need to build such an expensive construction since Taiwan north-to-south is not that far apart afterfall), this HSR has certainly shortened our travel time from Taichung to Hsinchu by more than 50%! It would have taken us about 1hr to drive.

Cars for the HSR are based on a design used by Japan’s Super Express HSR, modified to fit Taiwan’s topography and environment. Originally, a European rail technology was considered. However, Shinkansen, which operates Japan’s world-famous bullet train service, formed a Taiwan Shinkansen KK to get the work done. Cars are soundproofed and every train is equipped with handicapped accessible seats and washrooms. Every car displays real-time travel information such as time to next destination and current speed. This train requires not just one single front–end locomotive but twelve cars in the train provide power. This multi–engine system not only raises maximum speeds, but also allows for greater space in the typically "locomotive" cars.