TAIWAN: The first Taiwan N700ST high-speed train has left Hitachi’s Kasado Works in Japan, starting deliveries of a 12-set fleet designed to expand peak-period capacity by about 25%.

Taiwan N700ST high-speed train ships from Japan as the first of 12 sets, with commercial operation planned by the end of 2028.
First Taiwan N700ST High-Speed Train Ships. Photo: Hitachi Rail

The July 30 shipment comprises one 12-car trainset. In their official announcement, Hitachi and Toshiba said it is part of the 12 trainsets, or 144 cars, ordered by Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation in May 2023.

At approximately 300 metres long, each N700ST set is designed for a maximum commercial speed of 300 km/h. All 12 trainsets are scheduled to enter commercial operation by the end of 2028.

N700ST technology combines speed and backup power

The N700ST is derived from the N700S Shinkansen platform used in Japan but adapted for Taiwan’s operating environment. Its traction system combines silicon carbide power devices with blower-less cooling, reducing equipment size, weight and power consumption.

An N700S Shinkansen passes in front of Mount Fuji in Japan, illustrating the platform used to develop Taiwan’s N700ST train.
Illustrative image of an N700S Shinkansen in Japan; it does not depict the N700ST shipment to Taiwan. Photo: Manish Prabhune, CC BY-SA 4.0

Toshiba’s SCiB lithium-ion battery system provides backup power during an outage. It can move the train at low speed to a safe location while maintaining essential onboard services, including lighting and toilets.

Taiwan High Speed Rail has provided further detail on resilience. In its 2026 shareholders’ meeting record, the operator said the new rolling stock uses about 20% less energy than the 700 series, can travel 8–10 kilometres under its own power after an outage, and has an anti-slip system designed to reduce emergency braking distances by 20%.

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Passenger facilities receive a broad update

Standard Class will have reclining seats with linked cushions, while Business Class will use wraparound seating. Full-active suspension is intended to reduce vibration, and every seat will have a power socket.

Taiwan N700ST high-speed train ships from Japan as the first of 12 sets, with commercial operation planned by the end of 2028.
First Taiwan N700ST High-Speed Train Ships. Photo: Hitachi Rail

Other additions include full-colour LCD information displays, luggage areas throughout the train, upgraded nursing rooms and more wheelchair spaces than in the existing fleet. The exterior retains the white, orange and black visual identity associated with Taiwan’s current 700T trains.

Twelve trains will support a busier corridor

The N700ST fleet will run between Nangang in Taipei and Zuoying in Kaohsiung, serving Taiwan’s main north–south high-speed corridor along the west coast. The expected 25% peak-period capacity increase will come from operating more trains, rather than from a stated increase in capacity per trainset.

Taiwan N700ST high-speed train ships from Japan as the first of 12 sets, with commercial operation planned by the end of 2028.
First Taiwan N700ST High-Speed Train Ships. Photo: Hitachi Rail

The additional fleet responds to sustained demand. Taiwan High Speed Rail recorded 82.07 million passenger journeys in 2025, with average daily ridership of 225,000, according to its 2025 annual report. The first shipment moves the programme from manufacturing into delivery, while the full commercial rollout remains scheduled for completion by the end of 2028.

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