Taipei Metro VAL256
| Taipei Metro VAL 256 | |
|---|---|
 Three VAL 256 EMUs at reverse siding near Zhongshan Junior High School Station on the Wenshan Line, March 2008 | |
 Interior of a VAL 256 coach | |
| In service | March 28, 1996-present |
| Manufacturer | Matra and GEC Alsthom |
| Family name | VAL |
| Constructed | c.1990-1993 |
| Number built | 102 cars (51 2-car sets) |
| Formation | 4 cars per trainset (originally 2 cars) |
| Capacity | 24 seats, 90 standing per car (456 passengers in 4-car set) |
| Operators | Taipei Rapid Transit System |
| Depots | Muzha, Neihu |
| Lines served | Taipei Metro Brown Line (Wenshan Line and Neihu Line) |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 13,780 mm |
| Width | 2,560 mm |
| Height | 3,510 mm |
| Maximum speed | 80 km/h |
| Weight | 148 tonnes |
| Electric system(s) | 1500 V Third-rail DC |
| Safety system(s) | ATC (CBTC) |
| Track gauge | 1880[1] |
The Taipei Metro VAL 256 is a medium capacity rapid transit EMU operated on the Taipei Metro.
The VAL 256 was the first trainset to enter service on the Taipei Metro in 1996 (followed by the C301 trains the following year). VAL 256 cars are capable of driverless operation, as of all other trainsets. It is part of the VAL family of automated rubber-tired trainsets, also incorporating MAGGALY technology used on Lyon Metro Line D, but is larger than most other VAL trainsets (the Chicago O'Hare's Airport Transit System also uses the VAL 256).
The 102 cars were built by the Matra conglomerate (with GEC Alsthom) from circa 1990 to 1993, and entered service three years later. Within a year of revenue operations, Matra terminated the service contract, removing all maintenance crew. They filed and won a complaint against the Taipei City Government over contract delay compensations. All the while, the VAL256 trains continued service for twelve years, serviced by TRTC engineers and Academia Sinica researchers.[2] They featured fixed-block ATC/ATO systems for driverless and manual operation,[3] which was replaced by Communication-based train control (CBTC) in 2006-2009.[2]
In June 2003, Bombardier Transportation was contracted to extend the Muzha/Wenshan line into Neihu. This involved building 202 new cars, a new track signaling system (CITYFLO 650), and overhauling the Matra cars to function under the new system.
The Bombardier CITYFLO 650 trains were built from 2006 to July 4, 2009.[2] Integration of the Bombardier-built cars with the Matra-built cars was a daunting task, the consequences of which were multiple system malfunctions and failures along the Wenshan and Neihu Lines.[4]
Each four-car train is formed by two coupled two-car trainsets. Any two sets can be coupled, and their numbers do not need to be consecutive (unlike the heavy-capacity trains).
The VAL256 train sets have served the Muzha Line since 1996. The trains were taken offline for 17 months for control system upgrades, and resumed service in December 2010.
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Matra manufacturer's plate -
GEC Alsthom manufacturer's plate
See also
References
- ^ 內湖線則採用膠輪/鋼軌系統，中心線間距為1,880mm。此外，文山線因採膠輪/水泥軌道系統，一般來說並無軌距之分，但其凸出於路面的兩條行車水泥軌枕，中心線間距為1,880mm。
- ^ a b c Taipei Metro – Approaches and strategies in managing an extensive and diverse rail framework, Richard C.L. Chen, TRTS, retrieved 26 April 2008
- ^ http://www.trtc.com.tw/e/future.asp?catid=%E9%97%9C%E6%96%BC%E6%88%91%E5%80%91&small=%E8%B7%AF%E7%B6%B2%E8%88%87%E7%B3%BB%E7%B5%B1#Systems. Retrieved 2009-10-01. Notice, however, that the link says the VAL 256 trains are still controlled by off-board computers, which is no longer the case.
- ^ "Neihu, Muzha MRT lines closed down for 4 hours". Taiwan News Online. 2009-08-06. Retrieved 2009-08-12.