Taipei Metro C321

Last updated
Taipei Metro C321
C321 modern version.jpg
A modern Taipei Metro C321 in 2025
C321 1120 interior on Bannan Line 20191226.jpg
Interior design of a C321 train
In service1999−present
Manufacturer Siemens, SGP Verkehrstechnik, Union Carriage & Wagon, [1] China Steel (assembly of 18 sets) [2]
Built at Germany
Family name Modular Metro
Constructed19981999
Refurbished2023present
Number built216 vehicles (36 sets)
Formation6-car sets
DM1–T–M2+M2–T–DM1
Fleet numbers
  • 101/102−115/116
  • 175/176
  • 119/120−171/172
Capacity1,914 passengers
Operators Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation
DepotsTucheng, Nangang
Lines served Taipei Metro Line BL.svg Bannan line
Specifications
Car body constructionStainless steel
Train length141 m (462 ft 7 in)
Car length23.5 m (77 ft 1 in)
Width3.18 m (10 ft 5 in)
Height3,585 mm (11 ft 9.1 in)
Wheel diameter850–775 mm (33.5–30.5 in) (new–worn) [3]
Wheelbase 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) [3]
Maximum speed
  • 90 km/h (56 mph) (design)
  • 80 km/h (50 mph) (service)
Weight
  • 39.5 t (38.9 long tons; 43.5 short tons) (DM1/M2)
  • 34 t (33 long tons; 37 short tons) (T)
Traction system
  • Siemens 2-level GTOVVVF (as built)
  • ABB BORDLINE IGBT–VVVF (after refurbishment)
Traction motors 4 × 230 kW (310 hp) 3-phase AC induction motor
Power output3.68 MW (4,930 hp)
Acceleration 1 m/s2 (2.2 mph/s)
Deceleration
  • 1 m/s2 (2.2 mph/s) (service)
  • 1.3 m/s2 (2.9 mph/s) (emergency)
Electric system(s) 750 V DC   third rail
Current collector(s) Contact shoe
UIC classification Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′
Bogies SF 2000 [3]
Braking system(s) Regenerative and disc brakes [4]
Safety system(s) ATC/ATO, ATS
Coupling system Tomlinson
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge

The Taipei Metro C321 is the second generation of heavy-capacity rolling stock [5] used on the Taipei Metro in Taipei, Taiwan. Built by Siemens Mobility in Germany, it was introduced on the Bannan line in 1999.

Contents

History

Siemens won a contract to build the second batch of 216 cars for the Taipei Metro in 1993. Siemens in turn subcontracted part of the contract to Union Carriage & Wagon of South Africa, which became a focal point of controversy for the Union Rail Car partnership (the builder of the earlier C301 trains) and the United States government, the latter which accused the South African government of subsidising the Siemens bid; Union Carriage & Wagon in return denied any government involvement in the bid. The United States government sought to convince Taipei to reverse the contract award to Siemens but was presumably unsuccessful. [6]

Exterior

The train design was based on the Modular Metro, while the exterior and interior dimensions and configurations are the same as the C301. However, a key distinguishing feature of the C321 is the use of a white flat FRP front as opposed to the grey rounded front of the C301. The general shape of the C321 can also be described as more squarish than the C301 trains. [7]

Following the traction system replacement of the Red line's C301 between 2012 and 2017, the C321 is currently the only train on Taipei Metro to use GTOVVVF inverters for its AC motors. As the C321 trains have been in service for over 20 years, the TRTC announced the tender for the first time to propose their second traction system replacement together with the C341 in February 2021. The bid opened on 10 May 2021 and on 30 July 2021, TRSC won the contract to do so.[ citation needed ]

Interior

A significant change of the C321 interior design as compared to the C301 was the ceiling design, where the air-conditioning vents were more exposed and demarcated with blue stripes while the ceiling at each end of the car was lowered to accommodate space for the air-conditioning evaporator. [8] Likewise, the grab pole configuration was also significantly different from the C301 as it was now two side handrails instead of a single central handrail.

Like the C301, the seats are arranged in a mix of transverse and longitudinal arrangements. Most seats are turquoise, while the priority seats are navy blue. The priority seats are at the sides, and 8 seats are between doors, while 3 seats are next to the end of the car and doors.

As with the C301 trains, the Passenger Information Display did not show the doors opening and closing or the time prior to the refurbishment of the sets. Before the refurbishment, it showed the station design and the terminal. Bicycle racks are available at the end cars.

Deployments

The C321 was built in a few different batches: CH321 (11 trainsets) for the Xindian and Tamsui lines, CC361 (8 trainsets) for the Zhonghe line, and CN331 (17 trainsets) for the Nangang line.

When initially introduced, the trains initially served the Tamsui, Xindian, Xiaonanmen, Zhonghe, Banqiao, and Nangang lines and the Xiaobitan branch line. In the case of the Xiaobitan branch line selective door operation had to be used and one half of the trainset used had to be sealed off from public. The C321 was withdrawn from the Xiaobitan branch line on 21 July 2006 with the introduction of a three-car C371 trainset; on 4 March 2009 almost all C321 trainsets were consolidated to the Bannan Line to facilitate the maintenance regime and train dispatching. Use of the C321 on the Xiaonanmen Line was also discontinued in 2013. [7] [8]

Train formation

A Siemens builder's plate and a fleet number plate on a C321 train. This car is the trailer car of trainset 140 in the formation 139/140. Siemens logo in Taipei MRT 2140.jpg
A Siemens builder's plate and a fleet number plate on a C321 train. This car is the trailer car of trainset 140 in the formation 139/140.
Taipei Metro C321 train in 2005, before LED display conversion Ban Nan Xian Lie Che .JPG
Taipei Metro C321 train in 2005, before LED display conversion

A complete six-car trainset consists of an identical twin set of one driving motor car (DM1), one trailer car (T) and one intermediate motor car (M2) permanently coupled together. The configuration of a C321 trainset in revenue service is DM1–T–M2–M2–T–DM1.

Each car is assigned its own four-digit serial number, which ranges from x101 to x172.



Modifications

Taipei Metro C321 Train New DI.jpg
The new full-colour LED side exterior display on a C321
C321 1109 B1 SI 20150705.jpg
The new full-colour LED interior display on a C321

The original gangway connection were easily prone to damage and were hence replaced by a newer design similar to that on the C341. [7]

In 2009, some seats were modified from transverse to longitudinal arrangements to increase the capacity of the C321. [8]

In 2014, the LED train information displays were updated to full-colour LED displays.

Derivatives

A Siemens-built Kaohsiung Metro train Gao Xiong Jie Yun  (15684880656).jpg
A Siemens-built Kaohsiung Metro train

The Taipei Metro C341 was developed directly from the C321, using IGBT–VVVF inverters for its AC motors, for the Tucheng extension of the Bannan Line. The Kaohsiung Metro also uses the Siemens trains derived from the Taipei Metro.

See also

References

  1. "Taipei Prepares for New Mass-Transit Infrastructure" (PDF). Japan Railway & Transport Review. June 1998. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-26. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
  2. Shen Jiaxin (2012-06-25). "China Steel "on track" defender becomes forward" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Commonwealth Magazine Issue 207. Archived from the original on 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  3. 1 2 3 "Data Sheet Bogie-platform SF2000" (PDF). Siemens .
  4. 蘇, 昭旭 (2014). 台灣鐵路火車百科:台鐵·高鐵·捷運 第三版. Taiwan: 人人出版. ISBN   9789865903404.
  5. "Taipei Metro". Railway Technology. Archived from the original on 2016-05-13. Retrieved 2016-05-06.
  6. Yonkers Fighting To Save Rail-Car Jobs Archived 2020-02-16 at the Wayback Machine , The New York Times, Elsa Brenner, 25 July 1993
  7. 1 2 3 "第五章 捷運列車介紹". fgu.edu.tw. Archived from the original on 2020-02-23. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
  8. 1 2 3 "台北捷運車両紹介321型". 2427junction.com. Archived from the original on 2019-09-13. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
  9. "鄭捷列車改編號 去年7月重回板南線". YouTube. 7 April 2016.