| 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 | 1996-present |
| Manufacturer | Matra/GEC Alsthom (Batch 1), Bombardier (Batch 2) |
| Family name | VAL |
| Constructed | c.1990-1993 (Batch 1) 2006-2009 (Batch 2) |
| Number built | 303 cars (75 trains + 3 surplus cars) |
| Formation | 4 cars per trainset |
| Capacity | 24 seats, 90 standing per car |
| Operator | Taipei Rapid Transit System |
| Depot(s) | Muzha, Neihu |
| Line(s) served | Taipei Metro Brown Line (Wenshan Line and Neihu Line) |
| 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) |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Standard gauge |
The Taipei Metro VAL 256 is a medium capacity rapid transit EMU operated on the Taipei Rapid Transit System.
The VAL 256 was the first trainset to enter service on the Taipei Metro in 1996 (followed by the C301 cars later that year). VAL 256 cars are capable of driverless operation, as of all other trainsets.
The first 101 cars were built by the Matra conglomerate (with GEC Alsthom) from circa 1990 to 1993 as part of the VAL family of automated rubber-tired trainsets, and entered service three years later. 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. All the while, the VAL256 trains continued service for twelve years, serviced by TRTC engineers and Academia Sinica researchers.[1] They featured fixed-block ATC/ATO systems for driverless and manual operation,[2] which was replaced by Communication-based train control (CBTC) in 2006-2009.[1]
In June 2003, Bombardier Transportation was contracted to extend the Muzha/Wenshan line into Neihu. This involves building 202 new cars, the track signaling system, and overhauling the Matra cars to function under the new system.
The Bombardier trains were built from 2006 to July 4, 2009.[1] Integration of the Bombardier-built cars with the Matra-built cars was a daunting task, the consequences of which were multiple system malfunctions and failures along the Wenshan and Neihu Lines.[3]
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 (unlike the heavy-capacity trains).
The VAL256 train sets have served the Muzha Line from 1996 to 2009. The trains were taken offline for 17 months for control system upgrades, and is to resume service in December 2010.