After long and troubled history, Taiwan’s High Speed Rail system finally launches first commercial service

This morning, Taiwan became a member of the growing list of countries that offer high speed rail service:

Taiwan’s long-delayed high-speed rail system debuted Friday, its 12-car caravan of sleek orange and white coaches gliding out of a suburban Taipei station right on time at 7 a.m.

[Taiwan’s high-speed train debuts after long delays (SignOnSanDiego.com)]

The operation mixes Japanese Shinkansen-type trains with European-built infrastructure - and in an ironic twist of history, the Japanese-built trains are actually operated by French and German drivers …

And a series of commercial disputes since the project began in 1980 has produced a remarkable hodgepodge: French and German train drivers who are allowed to speak only English with Taiwanese traffic controllers while operating Japanese bullet trains on tracks originally designed by British and French engineers.

[Taiwan’s Bullet Trains Can’t Outrun Controversy (New York Times)]

The new line opened amidst concerns about safety and controversy about the high cost of construction ($15 billion). Trains run on a new purpose built right-of-way stretched along the west coast of Taiwan, connecting the two main cities, Taipei and Kaohsiung, with intermediate stations at major towns and cities along the way.

Posted in: High Speed Rail, Taiwan | January 5, 2007 4:51 pm