The EMU3000 series is a series of

electric multiple unit An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number o ...

trains operated by the

Taiwan Railway Taiwan Railway (TR) is a state-owned conventional railway in Taiwan. It is operated by the Taiwan Railway Corporation under the supervision of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (Republic of China), Ministry of Transportation and ...

(TR). The trains are built by the Japanese company

Hitachi Rail Hitachi, Ltd. Railway Systems Business Unit, Trade name, trading as Hitachi Rail, is the rolling stock and railway signalling manufacturing division of Hitachi outside Japan. History Hitachi's rail division before global expansion After the ...

as inter-city trains and entered passenger service on 29 December 2021.

History

The EMU3000 series was purchased as part of the

Taiwan Railways Administration Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) was a governmental agency in Taiwan which operated Taiwan Railway from 1948 to 2023. It managed, maintained, and operated conventional passenger and freight Rail transport, railway services on of track. Pa ...

's (TRA) plan to replace its aging fleet by 2024. That plan called for the purchase of 600 intercity cars, 520 commuter cars ( EMU900 series), 102 locomotives, and 60 un-electrified passenger cars. Additionally, the EMU3000 series was expected to increase TRA's service capacity in

Eastern Taiwan The regions of Taiwan are based on historical administrative divisions. However, most of the definitions are not precise. Division into two regions * Eastern and Western Taiwan: the Central Mountain Range separates Taiwan into east and west. :* ' ...

, where demand for tickets is high and often sell out around major holidays. Bidding for the intercity trains commenced in October 2018 and saw entries from two companies,

Hitachi () is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in 1910 and headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The company is active in various industries, including digital systems, power and renewable ener ...

and Stadler. The TRA announced that Hitachi won the bid in December, and a contract was signed in January 2019 for . The train's design was revealed to the public in November 2020. The EMU3000 series are assembled in Hitachi's Kasado Plant in

Kudamatsu 270px, Kudamatsu city center is a city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 56,892 in 26829 households and a population density of 640 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Kudamatsu ...

Yamaguchi Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Yamaguchi Prefecture has a population of 1,377,631 (1 February 2018) and has a geographic area of 6,112 Square kilometre, km2 (2,359 Square mile, sq mi). ...

. While the first group of trains were slated to arrive in June 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed back the trains' delivery. The first train was unloaded in the

Port of Hualien A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Hamburg, Manch ...

on 31 July 2021. The remaining trains are scheduled to arrive by 2024.

Features

The EMU3000 series runs in a 12-car formation, which is four cars longer than TR's last two intercity EMUs, the TEMU1000 series and the TEMU2000 series, which consist of 8 cars only. The train's exterior is designed around the concept of "silent flow" that is black and white with red accents. The interior of the train contains a total of 538 seats. The EMU3000 has a

business class Business class is a travel class available on many commercial airlines and rail lines, known by brand names that vary by airline or rail company. In the airline industry, it was originally intended as an intermediate level of service between e ...

car branded as the Teng-yun Cabinet () with larger seats, charging ports, internet access, and complimentary drinks and snacks. Unlike its predecessors, the EMU3000 series does not have a tilting mechanism. According to Wang Kwo-tsai, the Minister of Transportation and Communications, improvements to track conditions in the past few years means that the tilting mechanism is unnecessary.

References

External links

* {{A-Train Electric multiple units of Taiwan 25 kV AC multiple units Hitachi multiple units Train-related introductions in 2021