Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has signed a contract with the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation to supply maintenance equipment and tools to the Yanchao main maintenance depot in southern Taiwan. The investment paves the way for the introduction of the new N700ST high-speed trains, which are scheduled to enter commercial service in the second half of 2027.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), a Japanese industrial group also involved in railway projects, will supply maintenance equipment for Taiwan’s high-speed rail network.
The company has signed a contract with Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC), the operator of the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) network, to equip the Yanchao main maintenance depot, located in southern Taiwan.
The Yanchao depot is used for the maintenance and inspection of THSRC’s high-speed trains. Under the contract, MHI will deliver, install, test, and commission maintenance tools and equipment for this facility.
Preparations for the N700ST Trains
The contract is related to the introduction of the new N700ST high-speed trains, which THSRC is preparing for commercial operation.
According to MHI, the N700ST trains are scheduled to enter service in the second half of 2027. The new equipment at Yanchao will strengthen the Taiwanese operator’s maintenance system ahead of the introduction of the new train series.
The Japanese company describes the project as a necessary step toward improving transportation services on the THSR network.
Taiwan High Speed Rail, Over 1 Billion Passengers
Taiwan’s high-speed rail network was inaugurated in 2007 and has become one of the island’s main transportation infrastructures.
Annual passenger numbers have risen from approximately 15 million at the time of opening to about 82 million in 2025. Currently, the network carries an average of approximately 230,000 passengers per day, and cumulative ridership has exceeded 1 billion passengers.
The THSR plays a vital role in Taiwan’s domestic mobility and economic activity, connecting the major urban centers along the island’s western axis.
Japanese Involvement Since the Project’s Inception
MHI has a long history with Taiwan’s high-speed rail project. The contract for the THSR’s core system was awarded in 2000 to a consortium of seven Japanese companies, including MHI.
Commercial operations began in January 2007. Since then, MHI has been involved in several projects related to the network’s development, including the extension to Nangang and work on the track system and basic infrastructure at the Zuoying depot.
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