Puyuma Express

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]

A Puyuma Express at Shulin Station.

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 kilometres per hour (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 tilting electrical multiple unit series purpose-built by Nippon Sharyo. TRA purchased a total of 136 TEMU2000 cars.[9] The first 16 cars arrived on 25 October 2012.[10]

Fatal incidents

References
  1. Shan, Shelley (16 January 2013). "Puyuma Express to be launched - Taipei Times". The Taipei Times. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  2. "TRA promotes train-bus service, offers Puyuma train tickets - The China Post". The China Post. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  3. "Puyuma train launch carries hopes of East Coast travellers - The China Post". The China Post. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  4. "Puyuma train launch carries hopes of East Coast travelers - The China Post". The China Post. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  5. Shan, Shelley (6 February 2013). "Puyuma Express begins service - Taipei Times". The Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  6. "Puyuma trains good to go after safety approval - The China Post". The China Post. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  7. "Tilting trains to be named 'Puyuma' - Taipei Times". The Taipei Times. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  8. "Hualien-to-Taitung electrified train service launched". The China Post. 29 June 2014.
  9. "TRA takes delivery of 16 new train car - The China Post". The China Post. 26 October 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  10. "Train platforms altered to make way for tilted train". The Taipei Times. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  11. Lee, Yimou. "Taiwan train crash kills 18 in deadliest rail tragedy in decades". U.S. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
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