TRA awarded Hyundai Rotem a Won 909.8bn ($US 762.2m) contract for 52 10-car 130km/h EMUs in June 2018, the manufacture’s first contract on the island since 1999. The order is part of Taiwan’s eight year, $NT 975bn ($US 33.2bn) investment to upgrade its fleet, some of which has been in operation for more than 30 years.

The first batch was due to be delivered in September, but has since been delayed until October due to the coronavirus pandemic.

TRA is extending 25 of its 160m-long platforms to accommodate the 200m-long trains. Four stations will be extended this year, with the remaining platforms completed by the end of next year.

The full fleet is expected to be in operation in 2023.

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