On July 30, Japan’s Hitachi Ltd. and Toshiba Corp. said the first N700ST high-speed trainset built for export to Taiwan had been completed and shipped, according to a Hitachi press release.
According to the release, the N700ST is based on Central Japan Railway Co.’s latest N700S Shinkansen model. The 12-car trainset is about 300 meters long and has a top operating speed of 300 kilometers per hour. Passenger comfort features include a full active suspension system, power outlets at every seat, reclining seats with lowering seat cushions in standard class and wraparound seats in business class.
The 12 trainsets, comprising 144 cars, are expected to enter service by the end of 2028. Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. placed the order in 2023 under a contract worth 124 billion yen, or about $761 million at current exchange rates.
Separately, in May 2026, a ferry service between Taiwan and Japan resumed operations after being suspended in 2008.
Also in May, Uzbekistan launched a new high-speed train built by South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem, linking the capital, Tashkent, with the historic Silk Road city of Khiva.
