Puyuma Express
TEMU2000 series "Puyuma Express" | |
---|---|
![]() Puyuma Express set 16 near Xizhi | |
In service | 2013–present |
Manufacturer | Nippon Sharyo |
Family name | Tze-chiang limited express |
Formation | 4 cars per unit, 2 units per train |
Operators | Taiwan Railways Administration |
Specifications | |
Train length | 168.39 m (552 ft 5+1⁄2 in) |
Car length |
|
Width | 2.9 m (9 ft 6+3⁄16 in) |
Height |
|
Doors | 4 per car, 2 more for drivers |
Wheel diameter |
|
Wheelbase | 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in) |
Maximum speed | 130 km/h (81 mph) |
Traction system | Toshiba COV098-A0 IGBT–C/I (Converter and Inverter) |
Traction motors | 16 × Toshiba SEA-431 220 kW (300 hp) 3-phase AC induction motor |
Power output | 3.52 MW (4,720 hp) |
Tractive effort | 28,000 kgf (270 kN) |
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′ |
Bogies | ND-742 |
Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
The Puyuma Express (Chinese: 普悠瑪號; pinyin: Pǔyōumǎ Hào) is a type of railway service on Taiwan Railways (TRA) notable for using tilting trains. It began commercial service on 6 February 2013 during the Spring Festival.[1][2]
Puyuma Express was commissioned by the TRA in order to upgrade the Taiwanese rail system.[3] As the mountains of Taiwan are a barrier to coast-to-coast transportation, motor travel is prone to congestion. The high speed and capacity of the service helps to alleviate this problem.[4] Puyuma Express also increases passenger capacity on TRA.[5] The maximum operational speed of Puyuma Express is 150 km/h (93 mph), making it the fastest service of TRA.[6] Puyuma Express belongs to the Tze-chiang limited express class of TRA services in terms of fares; however, it is a reservation-only service similarly to the Taroko Express, with no standing passengers allowed.
Naming
The name "Puyuma" means "together" and "united" in the Puyuma language spoken by the Puyuma people of eastern Taiwan. It was chosen after a naming contest that was open to the public.[7]
History
The trains were imported to Taiwan in 2012; since 2013, they have been running between Hualien and Taipei, on the existing narrow gauge tracks of the winding Yilan line, where they reduced traveling time between the two cities from 3 hours down to about 2 hours. On 28 February 2013, the TRA announced that Taitung would become a destination on the Puyuma Express with official operations beginning 16 July 2014,[8] in concord with the completion of electrification of the Taitung Line.
Rolling stock
Puyuma Express services use TEMU2000 series tilting EMUs purpose-built by Nippon Sharyo. TRA purchased a total of 152 TEMU2000 cars for 19 trains.[9] The first 16 cars arrived on 25 October 2012.[10][11]
Fatal incidents
- On 21 October 2018, Puyuma Express set 4 derailed in Yilan County at about 16:50 local time, killing at least 18 people and injuring 187. The cause of this incident was an excessive speed, combined with an inactive automatic train stop.[12]
References
- ^ Shan, Shelley (16 January 2013). "Puyuma Express to be launched - Taipei Times". The Taipei Times. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
- ^ "TRA promotes train-bus service, offers Puyuma train tickets - The China Post". The China Post. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ^ "Puyuma train launch carries hopes of East Coast travellers - The China Post". The China Post. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ^ "Puyuma train launch carries hopes of East Coast travelers - The China Post". The China Post. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ^ Shan, Shelley (6 February 2013). "Puyuma Express begins service - Taipei Times". The Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
- ^ "Puyuma trains good to go after safety approval - The China Post". The China Post. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ "Tilting trains to be named 'Puyuma' - Taipei Times". The Taipei Times. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
- ^ "Hualien-to-Taitung electrified train service launched". The China Post. 29 June 2014.
- ^ "疾駛於電化區間的準高鐵列車~TEMU2000型普悠碼號". Train Collection (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ "Train platforms altered to make way for tilted train". The Taipei Times. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
- ^ "TRA takes delivery of 16 new train car - The China Post". The China Post. 26 October 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ^ Lee, Yimou. "Taiwan train crash kills 18 in deadliest rail tragedy in decades". U.S. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)