Taiwan High Speed Rail

From Free net encyclopedia

Taiwan High Speed Rail (台灣高速鐵路) is Taiwan's high-speed rail under construction with completion scheduled in October 2006. It runs approximately 345 kilometers from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Adopting Japan's Shinkansen technology for the core system, the Taiwan High Speed Rail will use the 700T Series Shinkansen, produced by a consortium of Japanese companies, most notably Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The total cost of the project is currently estimated to be USD$16 Billion. When completed, trains will travel from Taipei to Kaohsiung in roughly 90 minutes as opposed to the current 4-6 hours by conventional rail.

The project is notionally funded by private means but the development corporation, Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC), has consistently failed to meet its funding targets. The project has also been dogged by repeated controversy, including allegations of poor quality construction and unresolved safety concerns.

According to the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation, there will be different routings between Taipei and Kaohsiung. Like Japan's Shinkansen, some trains will stop at no stations whereas other trains will stop at every station.

Running tests have begun as of January 2005.

In late October 2005, Taiwan High Speed Rail passed its targeted speed of 300 km/h (180 mph) during testing. The same Japanese companies have won another project in December 2005 to build a high speed rail link to Taipei's Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport.

[edit]

Stations

Nangang (planned): underground, located in Nangang
Taipei: underground, located in downtown Taipei City, sharing the station with Taiwan Railway Administration
Banciao: underground, located in Banciao, sharing the station with Taiwan Railway Administration
Taoyuan: underground, located in Jhongli, near Chiang Kai-shek International Airport
Hsinchu: elevated, located in Lioujia, Jhubei, near Hsinchu Science Park
Miaoli (planned): elevated
Taichung: elevated, located in Wurih
Changhua (planned): elevated
Yunlin (planned): elevated
Chiayi: elevated, located in Taibao
Tainan: elevated, located in Gueiren
Zuoying: ground level, located in Zuoying District, Kaohsiung City, joint station with Taiwan Railway Administration new Zuoying Station, line terminal until extension to downtown Kaohsiung Station.
Kaohsiung (planned): underground, downtown Kaohsiung City, joint station with Taiwan Railway Administration new Kaohsiung Station.