TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – High-speed rail passengers will be able to select what type of train they want to travel on once the new N700ST trains from Japan start operating next year, reports said Saturday.

The first of 12 N700ST train sets ordered from the Hitachi Toshiba Supreme Consortium will arrive in Taiwan in August, but will not start operating until August 2027, per CNA. Delivery of the new trains is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2028, allowing peak-hour capacity to increase 25%.

Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation Chair Shih Che (史哲) said the trains would be primarily used for long-distance direct services on the Taipei-Kaohsiung line. At present, 200 trains per week, or 20% of the total, provide direct services without stopping at each station.

High-speed trains transported 82.07 million passengers last year, the first time the total exceeded 80 million. The total per year is expected to reach 100 million in 2032.

Shih said the ticket price for the new trains would be the same but travelers would find the type of train used for each journey on the website and in the online booking system. However, he cautioned that because of maintenance work or other service adjustments, the N700ST might be replaced by another train.

Shih added the company would not consider hiking fares until all new train sets are operational.