Taroko Express

The Taroko Express (Chinese: 太魯閣號; pinyin: Tàilǔgé Hào) is an express train service of the Taiwan Railways Administration. The name of the service comes from the 19 kilometer long Taroko Gorge, which is one of Taiwan's most popular tourist spots, and the Truku people. It began commercial operations on 16 February 2007.

A Taroko Express at Hualien Station in 2007.

The Taroko Express uses the tilting electrical multiple unit series called TEMU1000 based on the JR Kyushu 885 series. They were imported to Taiwan in 2006; since 2007, they have been running between Hualien and Taipei City, on the curvy Yilan Line at the existing narrow gauge tracks, where they reduced traveling time between the two places from previously 3 hours down to about 2 hours.[1] Some trains also continue from Taipei to Tianzhong Station. Its maximum operational speed is 130 kilometers per hour, or approximately 81 miles per hour.[2]

The Taroko Express is marketed as Tzu-Chiang Limited Express, and the tickets are sold at the same price; however, standing/non-reserved tickets are not sold for the Taroko Express, and all seats are reserved.[3] Nevertheless, in reality many passengers have been reported to have breached the rule, riding without reserved seats and standing in the aisle.[4][5]

In 2016, one Taroko Express trainset was painted in a Hello Kitty livery, similar to those used on some EVA Air fleet.