Title: TAIWAN HIGH-SPEED LINE ON COURSE TO OPEN IN 2005
Abstract: Taiwan's 345km high-speed line is now taking shape. It will run along the highly populated west coast of the island state connecting Taipei with Kaohsiung. When it opens in late 2005, 300km/h 12-carriage trains will operate at average headways of between nine and 10 minutes. The journey will take 1h 30min, compared with a current shortest journey time of 3h 50min. The project is being implemented by the Taiwan High Speed Railway Corporation under a 35-year design, build and operate concession. The major earthquake in 1999 delayed the award of the contract after revision of the earthquake zoning levels affecting the civil contracts. Track laying is scheduled to start on the main line in May 2003, with 60km for test purposes. The first 14km from Taipei is enclosed in a twin box tunnel. The northern part of the line passes through mountainous terrain, requiring 49km of tunnels. Slab track will be used at appropriate locations. The line will have a design speed of 350km/h and an operating speed of 300km/h and will be fitted with the current Shinkansen cab signalling system with bi-directional operation on each track and automatic train protection. Detectors will be provided to warn of earthquakes, high winds, heavy rain, rock falls, and hot axle boxes. An electronic passenger information system will be provided. Different train stopping patterns are envisaged: non-stop, one intermediate stop, plus trains that call at the northern or southern intermediate stations.
Publication Year: 2002
Publication Date: 2002-10-01
Language: en
Type: article
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