Taipei Metro VAL256

Taipei Metro VAL 256

Three VAL 256 EMUs at reverse siding near Zhongshan Junior High School Station on the Wenshan Line, March 2008

Interior of a VAL 256 coach
In service March 28, 1996-present
Manufacturer Matra and GEC Alsthom
Family name VAL
Constructed c.1990-1993
Number built 102 cars
(51 2-car sets)
Formation 4 cars per trainset (originally 2 cars)
Capacity 24 seats,
90 standing per car
(456 passengers in 4-car set)
Operator(s) Taipei Rapid Transit System
Depot(s) Muzha, Neihu
Line(s) served Brown Line/Line 1
Specifications
Car length 13,780 mm
Width 2,560 mm
Height 3,510 mm
Maximum speed 80 km/h
Weight 148 tonnes
Electric system(s) 1500 V Third-rail DC
Safety system(s) ATC (CBTC)
Track gauge 1,880 mm (6 ft 2 in)[1]

The Taipei Metro VAL 256 is a medium capacity rapid transit EMU which is operated on the Taipei Metro.

Historical background

The VAL 256 was the first train to enter service on the Taipei Metro when the system was first built in 1996. Its introduction was followed by the C301 trains in 1997. Like all the other cars in the Taipei Metro, VAL 256 cars are capable of driverless operation. They are part of the VAL family of automated rubber-tired trains that also use MAGGALY technology. The VAL 256 is also used on Lyon Metro's Line D and Chicago O'Hare's Airport Transit System. It is larger than most other VAL trains.

102 cars were built by the Matra conglomerate with GEC Alsthom from about 1990 to 1993, and entered service three years later, in 1996. Within a year of revenue operations, Matra terminated the service contract, removing all maintenance crew. They filed and won a complaint against the Taipei City Government over contract delay compensations. However, the VAL256 trains continued service for twelve years, serviced by TRTC engineers and Academia Sinica researchers.[2] They featured fixed-block ATC/ATO systems for driverless and manual operation,[3] which was replaced by Communication-based train control (CBTC) in 2006-2009.[2]

Close to modern times

In June 2003, Bombardier Transportation was contracted to extend the Muzha/Wenshan line into Neihu, which involved building 202 new cars, a new track signaling system (CITYFLO 650), and overhauling the Matra cars to function under the newly built system.[4]

The Bombardier Innovia APM 256 trains were manufactured from 2006 to July 4, 2009.[2] Integration of the Bombardier-built cars with the Matra-built cars was a daunting task which led to multiple system malfunctions and failures along the Wenshan and Neihu Lines.[5]

Each four-car train is formed by two coupled two-car trainsets. Any two sets can be coupled, and their numbers do not need to be consecutive, much unlike the heavy-capacity trains.

The VAL 256 trains have served the Muzha Line since 1996. The trains were taken off line for 17 months for control system upgrades and they resumed service in December 2010.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 內湖線則採用膠輪/鋼軌系統，中心線間距為1,880mm。此外，文山線因採膠輪/水泥軌道系統，一般來說並無軌距之分，但其凸出於路面的兩條行車水泥軌枕，中心線間距為1,880mm。
  2. 1 2 3 Taipei Metro – Approaches and strategies in managing an extensive and diverse rail framework, Richard C.L. Chen, TRTS, retrieved 26 April 2008
  3. ↑ http://www.trtc.com.tw/e/future.asp?catid=%E9%97%9C%E6%96%BC%E6%88%91%E5%80%91&small=%E8%B7%AF%E7%B6%B2%E8%88%87%E7%B3%BB%E7%B5%B1#Systems. Retrieved 2009-10-01. Notice, however, that the link says the VAL 256 trains are still controlled by off-board computers, which is no longer the case.
  4. ↑ "CITYFLO 650 - Neihu LINE, Taiwan". Bombardier Transportation.
  5. ↑ "Neihu, Muzha MRT lines closed down for 4 hours". Taiwan News Online. 2009-08-06. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
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