By KHT Staff
KAOHSIUNG — Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. (台灣高鐵公司, HSR) has completed a major upgrade of its crew rest and operations facilities in southern Taiwan as it prepares to introduce a new generation of trains later this year.
The Liberty Times reports the HSR company has purchased 12 of Japan’s latest N700S trainsets from JR Central (東海旅客鐵道株式會社), which will be customized for Taiwan as the N700ST model. The first train set is scheduled to arrive in Taiwan in August. To support the transition and strengthen recruitment and retention, Taiwan High Speed Rail has revamped crew rest spaces at its Southern Operations Center in Zuoying (左營), Kaohsiung.
The upgraded facilities were unveiled on Tuesday during a ceremony for the Second Zuoying Maintenance Depot, a key project intended to expand long-term maintenance capacity. Company officials said the renovations are designed to ensure frontline staff can rest adequately between duties while preparing for the operational demands of the new rolling stock.
The redesigned spaces include separate dining and quiet lounge areas, sofa seating with charging ports, massage chairs, briefing rooms, shared computer workstations, and refrigerators stocked with fresh meals and snacks. A dedicated resting room features individual reclining chairs that fully extend to a flat sleeping position. Crew members can reserve time slots and receive reminders from dispatch staff ahead of their next assignment, allowing for uninterrupted rest.
Interior design emphasizes natural wood tones and soft lighting. Practical details, such as power outlets built directly into dining tables, were added to accommodate work and personal device use.
Taiwan High Speed Rail currently employs 768 train crew members, including drivers, conductors, and service staff. Operations are managed through three regional centers in Nangang (南港), Taichung (台中), and Zuoying. The Southern Operations Center is the largest, with capacity for roughly 150 crew members to rest at the same time.
The company has also released promotional videos introducing the next-generation trains, highlighting design and operational upgrades planned for the N700ST fleet.
Taiwan High Speed Rail officials said the combination of facility upgrades, competitive compensation, and improved working conditions is intended to strengthen workforce stability as the system enters its next phase of expansion and modernization.
