Taipei Orders New Rolling Stock

 Taipei’s Department of Rapid Transit Systems (DORTS) ordered 321 Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) cars from Kawasaki in September. This order is equal to 5.3 billion yen with delivery scheduled from October 2005 to June 2009.

 DORTS will use 144 of the MRT cars on the Hsinchuang line and the Luchou branch line both opening in 2011. The remaining 177 MRT cars will be added to existing lines for increased capacity. The MRT cars are made from stainless steel and have 4 outer sliding doors on each side. Electricity (DC 750V) is supplied via a third rail and operated by the latest Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) inverter control. The cars use Kawasaki’s bolsterless bogies allowing for speeds of up to 80 kph. Furthermore, Kawasaki will provide monitoring cameras in the driver’s compartment to enhance passenger safety.

 Kawasaki’s MRT cars have a proven track record in Taipei with the delivery of 132 MRT cars in 1992 and 1993 when DORTS constructed a new MRT line to alleviate traffic congestion. Originally constructing MRT cars for the Japanese market, Kawasaki has gained international acclaim from cities such as New York, Singapore and Hong Kong by providing reliable and economical MRT cars based on expertise and cutting-edge technology accumulated over many years.