Awarded Contract for Rolling Stock in Taiwan

Sumitomo Corporation (President & CEO：Susumu Kato, Headquarter：Chuo-ku Tokyo、"SC") and Nippon Sharyo, Ltd. (President & CEO：Akira Nakagawa, Headquarter：Nagoya, Aichi、"NS")  have been awarded a contract from Taiwan Railways Administration("TRA") to supply 136 Tilting Electric Multiple Units (TEMUs). The contract price is about 30 billion Japanese Yen.

As part of Taiwan's large-scale infrastructure upgrade plan, 1,452.3 billion New Taiwan Dollars (approx. 4 trillion Japanese Yen) is planned to be invested from 2009 to 2016 for upgrade of transportation infrastructure. Upgrade and expansion of railway transportation infrastructure is being accelerated for Inter and Intra urban transit between cities such as Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung, TRA is an organization under direct control by the Taiwanese Government and is in charge of conventional lines spread mainly over the west and east coast of Taiwan. The delivery of new TEMUs is scheduled from 2012 to 2014, and will be mainly used for express train lines which run through mountains and the east coast of Taiwan.

This train will have a streamlined aluminum body, and will be used in an eight-car train formation. The "Tilting" EMU is an EMU which starts inclining inward before entering  a curve, , allowing  the train to run safely at a higher speed than ordinary EMUs do in  curves and  providing a comfortable ride to the  passengers. The tilting system technology used for this system was developed by NS. The TEMU also meets latest international safety standard for fire-resistance, and the interior is designed with a "barrier free" concept which provides an easy ride for passengers with small children. These vehicles will be used mainly in the east coast lines where transportation infrastructure development has been lagging due to geographical challenges. With the expansion of capacity on these lines, it is expected to stimulate Taiwanese economy.

The number of rolling stock supplied to the Taiwanese market by SC and NS, including rolling stock manufactured and supplied by a joint venture local rolling stock manufacturing company Taiwan Rolling Stock Co., Ltd. (Headquarter: Hsin-Chu County, Taiwan, "TRSC"), totals about 400 cars. In recent years, 160 cars supplied to TRA by TRSC have been successfully put in to service, and the high satisfaction rate for passenger comfort and low failure rate has strengthened our reputation as a reliable supplier, committed to expanding our share in the Taiwanese market.

【TEMU image】

【TRA route map】