By RK Shih/Staff. Images via THSR Corp, Liberty Times, LINE News, Cpok.com
KAOHSIUNG — Taiwan High Speed Rail (台灣高鐵) broke ground Thursday on a major expansion of its Yanchao Depot (燕巢總機廠) in Kaohsiung (高雄), as the company prepares to introduce its next-generation N700S-based trains later this year.
The new fleet, known locally as the N700ST, is expected to begin rolling out from July. To support the transition, THSR said it is expanding and reconfiguring its core maintenance hub.
The project includes the construction of a new 11,500-square-meter integrated facility, which will be used for maintenance operations and parts storage for both the existing 700T trains and the incoming N700ST models.
In addition to the new building, the site will see broader upgrades, including a multi-level parking structure, a motorcycle parking area, and improvements to existing maintenance lines. Planned enhancements include elevated steel storage systems, automated warehousing equipment, and a controlled-environment inspection room.
A new substation will also be built to ensure a stable power supply as maintenance demands increase with the expanded fleet. The THSR Corp. says the Yanchao facility is set to become a major hub for THSR’s southern operations as newer train models are introduced alongside the existing fleet.
Original reporting: Liberty Times; Taiwan High Speed Rail
