Taroko Express

TEMU1000 series "Taroko Express"
Taroko Express set 4 near Xizhi
In service2007 –present
ManufacturerHitachi Rail
Family name
Formation4 cars per unit, 2 units per train
OperatorsTaiwan Railway Corporation
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium
Train length166.99 m (547 ft 10 in)
Car length
  • 21,995 mm (72 ft 1.9 in) (TED)
  • 20.5 m (67 ft 3 in) (others)
Width2.91 m (9 ft 7 in)
Height
  • 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in) (TEP)
  • 4.03 m (13 ft 3 in) (others)
Doors4 per car, 2 more for drivers
Maximum speed
  • 150 km/h (93 mph) (design)
  • 130 km/h (81 mph) (service)
Traction systemHitachi IGBT–C/I
Traction motors16 × Hitachi HS32529-06RB 190 kW (255 hp) asynchronous 3-phase AC
Power output3.04 MW (4,077 hp)
Electric system(s)25 kV 60 Hz AC (nominal) from overhead catenary
Current collector(s)Pantograph
UIC classification2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The Taroko Express (Chinese: 太魯閣號; pinyin: Tàilǔgé Hào) is an express train service of Taiwan Railway, and is part of Tze-Chiang Limited Express. The name of the service comes from the 19-kilometre (12-mile) long Taroko Gorge, which is one of Taiwan's most popular tourist spots, and the Truku people. It began commercial operations on 16 February 2007.

The Taroko Express uses the tilting electrical multiple unit series known as TEMU1000 based on the JR Kyushu 885 series. They were imported to Taiwan in 2006; since 2007, they have been running between Hualien and Taipei City, on the curved Yilan line at the existing narrow gauge tracks, where they reduced traveling time between the two places from previously 3 hours down to about 2 hours.[1] Some trains also continue from Taipei to Tianzhong. Its maximum operational speed is 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph).[2]

Taroko Express set 7 in Hello Kitty livery at Kaohsiung in 2016. After the livery was removed, this trainset would later derail, killing 49.

On 2 April 2021, a Taroko Express train derailed in Hualien County, killing 49 people with many others injured.[3][4]

  1. ^ Huang, Annie (11 May 2007). "Tilting trains ease east line travel woes". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  2. ^ Shan, Shelley (1 January 2007). "TRA to compete by offering new trains - Taipei Times". The Taipei Times. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  3. ^ Chang Chi; Lu Tai-cheng; Frances Huang (2 April 2021). "Multiple passengers reported with 'no vital signs' in train derailment". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  4. ^ "太魯閣號事故遺骸DNA比對出爐 罹難者確認49人" [DNA Matching Results of Taroko Express Derailment Released, Death Toll reduced to 49]. www.cna.com.tw. 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.