Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) is actively installing new-generation platform screen doors at all 11 stations on its network as the railway prepares to mark its 20th anniversary next year and launch its next chapter of service, dubbed “2.0.”

The first N700ST next-generation train will begin production in July, with revenue service expected by late 2026. To accommodate both the new and existing 700T rolling stock, THSRC is collaborating with Panasonic Taiwan to create wider door openings. A recent ceremony marked the NT$2.05 billion (US$65 million) project, focusing on Hsinchu and Banqiao stations in Q4 2026, with upgrades for the remaining nine stations to be completed by Q1 2028.

THSRC Vice President and spokesperson Elaine Tsou (鄒衡蕪) said the new doors, finished in dark gray and stainless steel with large laminated glass panels, have earned international functional safety (SIL) certification. "The newly installed platform doors account for differences in door positions between the next-generation trains and the current 700T fleet by adopting a widened door and window design, ensuring the system maintains a high degree of operational flexibility. In response to future extreme weather, the platform door structure has passed a Category 17 typhoon-force wind test, ensuring high stability during typhoons and other extreme weather conditions," she said.

The upgraded doors also feature extended emergency door indicator lights for easier passenger identification. They are designed to offer a safer, more accessible waiting environment for elderly passengers, children, and people with disabilities.