Taiwan to buy bullet trains from Hitachi-Toshiba duo in $930m deal

Nikkei Asia
March 16, 2023 (Taipei, Taiwan)

Rail operator moves ahead with purchase of 12 trains to improve service

Taiwan High Speed Rail will buy 12 train sets from a Japanese consortium consisting of Hitachi and Toshiba for 124 billion yen ($932 million), the company said Wednesday.

Taiwan was the first overseas market to adopt Japan's shinkansen bullet train technology, and the high-speed rail service launched in 2007 with Japanese companies supplying the rolling stock, signal systems and other equipment.

Amid an increase in passengers, Taiwan High Speed Rail aims to improve service by introducing new cars. The 700T shinkansen used in Taiwan is a modified version of the 700 series that has been in use in Japan.

The rail operator has been working to buy new trains since 2019, but past rounds of bidding had not led to a deal due to disagreements over the price and other conditions.

It noted that it chose to buy from the Hitachi-Toshiba duo following the third round of bidding held in March 2022. The parties have yet to sign a formal agreement.

Source
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Taiwan-to-buy-bullet-trains-from-Hitachi-Toshiba-duo-in-930m-deal