Taroko Express
The Taroko Express (Chinese: 太魯閣號; pinyin: Tàilǔgé Hào) is an express train service of Taiwan Railway, and is part of Tze-Chiang Limited Express. The name of the service comes from the 19-kilometre (12-mile) long Taroko Gorge, which is one of Taiwan's most popular tourist spots, and the Truku people. It began commercial operations on 16 February 2007.
| TEMU1000 series "Taroko Express" | |
|---|---|
Taroko Express set 4 near Xizhi | |
| In service | 2013–present |
| Manufacturer | Hitachi Rail |
| Family name |
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| Formation | 4 cars per unit, 2 units per train |
| Operators | Taiwan Railway Corporation |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium |
| Train length | 166.99 m (547 ft 10 in) |
| Car length |
|
| Width | 2.91 m (9 ft 7 in) |
| Height |
|
| Doors | 4 per car, 2 more for drivers |
| Maximum speed |
|
| Traction system | Hitachi IGBT–C/I |
| Traction motors | 16 × Hitachi HS32529-06RB 190 kW (255 hp) asynchronous 3-phase AC |
| Power output | 3.04 MW (4,077 hp) |
| Electric system(s) | 25 kV 60 Hz AC (nominal) from overhead catenary |
| Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
| UIC classification | 2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′ |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
The Taroko Express uses the tilting electrical multiple unit series known as TEMU1000 based on the JR Kyushu 885 series. They were imported to Taiwan in 2006; since 2007, they have been running between Hualien and Taipei City, on the curved Yilan line at the existing narrow gauge tracks, where they reduced traveling time between the two places from previously 3 hours down to about 2 hours. Some trains also continue from Taipei to Tianzhong. Its maximum operational speed is 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph).
On 2 April 2021, a Taroko Express train derailed in Hualien County, killing 49 people with many others injured.