The Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) has completed the electrification of the Hualien-Taitung Line, which runs down Taiwan’s eastern coast.
Fully electrified service began Wednesday. TRA has replaced 15 aging diesel-powered trains which have seen decades of service, and put 17 brand-new Puyuma Express trains into use on the line. Other, slower electric-powered rolling stock will be put into use on the line as well, with the last diesel-powered trains moved into service on the Southern Link Line.
Head of TRA Chou Yung-hui said that the electrification of the line will increase transport capacity by 18% on Mondays through Thursdays, and by 40% Fridays through Sundays. The move of diesel-powered trains southward will also bring up capacity on the Southern Link Line by 25-30%.