| Taipei Metro C321 | |
|---|---|
 A Taipei Metro C321 train on the Bannan line in 2005 | |
 Interior design of a C321 train | |
| In service | 1999−present |
| Manufacturer | Siemens,SGP Verkehrstechnik,Union Carriage & Wagon,[1]China Steel (assembly of 18 sets)[2] |
| Built at | Germany |
| Family name | Modular Metro |
| Constructed | 1998–1999 |
| Refurbished | 2023–present |
| Number built | 216 vehicles (36 sets) |
| Formation | 6-car sets DM1–T–M2+M2–T–DM1 |
| Fleet numbers |
|
| Capacity | 1,914 passengers |
| Operators | Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation |
| Depots | Tucheng, Nangang |
| Lines served |  Bannan line |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Stainless steel |
| Train length | 141 m (462 ft 7 in) |
| Car length | 23.5 m (77 ft 1 in) |
| Width | 3.18 m (10 ft 5 in) |
| Height | 3,585 mm (11 ft 9.1 in) |
| Wheel diameter | 850–775 mm (33.5–30.5 in) (new–worn)[3] |
| Wheelbase | 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)[3] |
| Maximum speed |
|
| Weight |
|
| Traction system | |
| Traction motors | 4 × 230 kW (310 hp) 3-phase ACinduction motor |
| Power output | 3.68 MW (4,930 hp) |
| Acceleration | 1 m/s2 (2.2 mph/s) |
| Deceleration |
|
| 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 anddisc brakes[4] |
| Safety system(s) | ATC/ATO,ATS |
| Coupling system | Tomlinson |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge |
TheTaipei Metro C321 is the second generation of heavy-capacityrolling stock[5] used on theTaipei Metro inTaipei, Taiwan. Built bySiemens Mobility in Germany, it was introduced on theBannan line in 1999.
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 toUnion Carriage & Wagon ofSouth Africa, which became a focal point of controversy for the Union Rail Car partnership (the builder of the earlierC301 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]
The train design was based on theModular Metro, while the exterior and interior dimensions and configurations are the same as theC301. However, a key distinguishing feature of the C321 is the use of a white flatFRP 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 theRed line'sC301 between 2012 and 2017, the C321 is currently the only train on Taipei Metro to useGTO–VVVF 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 theC341 in February 2021. The bid opened on 10 May 2021 and on 30 July 2021,TRSC won the contract to do so.[citation needed]
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.
The C321 was built in a few different batches: CH321 (11 trainsets) for theXindian andTamsui lines, CC361 (8 trainsets) for theZhonghe line, and CN331 (17 trainsets) for theNangang line.
When initially introduced, the trains initially served theTamsui,Xindian, Xiaonanmen,Zhonghe,Banqiao, and Nangang lines and theXiaobitan branch line. In the case of theXiaobitan branch lineselective 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-carC371 trainset; on 4 March 2009 almost all C321 trainsets were consolidated to the Bannan Line to facilitate the maintenance regime andtrain dispatching. Use of the C321 on the Xiaonanmen Line was also discontinued in 2013.[7][8]
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.
The originalgangway 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.
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TheTaipei Metro C341 was developed directly from the C321, usingIGBT–VVVF inverters for its AC motors, for the Tucheng extension of the Bannan Line. TheKaohsiung Metro also uses theSiemens trains derived from the Taipei Metro.
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