Taiwan Launches High-Speed Rail Service

After several long delays, Taiwan's new Shinkansen bullet train begins commercial service, linking the island's two major cities.

1 minute read

January 6, 2007, 5:00 AM PST

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


"Taiwan's long-delayed high-speed rail system debuted Friday, its 12-car caravan of sleek orange and white coaches gliding out of a suburban Taipei station right on time at 7 a.m."

"Twenty years in the making, the $15 billion system represents a colossal effort to provide a state-of-the-art, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly transport option for Taiwan's 23 million people.

Friday's initial service, which stopped in the central city of Taichung, made the 216-mile journey to the southern city of Kaohsiung in the scheduled time of 90 minutes - two-and-a-half hours faster than the usual train service on that route."

Friday, January 5, 2007 in Associated Press via Forbes

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