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 numbe ...

trains operated by the

Taiwan Railways Administration Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) is a railway operator in Taiwan. It is an agency of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, responsible for managing, maintaining, and running conventional passenger and freight railway services ...

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

Hitachi Rail () is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is the parent company of the Hitachi Group (''Hitachi Gurūpu'') and had formed part of the Nissan ''zaibatsu'' and later DKB Group and Fuyo ...

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

History

The EMU3000 series was purchased as part of the TRA's 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 is expected to increase TRA's service capacity in

Eastern Taiwan The regions of Taiwan are based on the 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 corporation headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is the parent company of the Hitachi Group (''Hitachi Gurūpu'') and had formed part of the Ni ...

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 is a city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. , the city has an estimated population of 55,119, with 24,392 households and a population density of 616 persons per km2. The total area is 89.44 km2. The city was founded on November 3, 1939, being ...

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). Y ...

. 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 The Port of Hualien () is an international port on the Pacific Ocean in Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan. Its artificial harbor protected by breakwaters was built in 1930–1939. There are 25 wharves in Hualien Port. The annual container volu ...

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 the TRA'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 which vary, by airline or rail company. In the airline industry, it was originally intended as an intermediate level of service between ...

car 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 Wang Kwo-tsai (; born 1959) is a Taiwanese politician. He is the incumbent Ministry of Transportation and Communications (Taiwan), Minister of Transportation and Communications. He had also served as the Ministry of Transportation and Communicat ...

, 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