page_title: Tze-chiang limited express
section_title: Introduction
hierarchical_section_title: Tze-chiang limited express / Introduction
caption_attribution_description: English: Taipei Main Station’s less-crowded underground platform with a British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) EMU100, delivered in 1978 for the original Taiwan West Coast Mainline Electrification programme.
context_page_description: Tze-chiang limited express, also spelled "Tzu-chiang" or "Ziqiang" is a type of express train service operated by the Taiwan Railways Administration in Taiwan. Of the 5 service classes operated by the TRA, the Tze-Chiang trains is the fastest category. Ticketing is done on the basis of mileage. This service is operated with 7 different trainsets: the E1000 series, the EMU1200, EMU300, TEMU1000, DR2800, DR3100, and the TEMU2000. The now-retired EMU100 was the first trainset built for this service, which was used for 30 years, terminating ordinary runs at June 15, 2009.
  Tzu-chiang is the Taiwan Railway Administration's highest class of deluxe express passenger train, and is also the class of service with the highest ticket price per mile.
  Tzu-chiang was so-named from a phrase in an address that Chiang Kai-shek, the former President of Republic of China, delivered to his countrymen on 26 October 1971 in response to United Nations Resolution 2758, in which he urged the country to "Respect the Homeland, Strengthen Self; Respond to Change without Fear." U.N.
context_section_description: Taiwan Railways' West Coast Mainline (WCML) Electrification Project was completed in 1978, leading wholesale timetable recast on the WCML.  At about the same time, the new EMU100 vehicles ordered for express passenger service on the WCML was introduced.  Up until this point, the highest-class passenger train on the WCML had been the diesel and electric locomotive hauled Kwan-Kung (Tourist) Express, which was phased out of service on 25 April 1978.  All express passenger schedules were re-allocated to a new class of deluxe electric express service, and the Chu-Kuang Express (introduced earlier in 1970).
  The EMU100 "electric express" was formally introduced on 15 August 1978 at a fare of NT$1.32 per kilometer.  The first services operated between Taipei and Taichung (via Coast Line), and as electric catenaries were erected, switched to operating via Mountain Line.  As the service was extended to Chiayi and Tainan, the service was formally christened "Tze-Chiang Limited Express".  As electrification progressed, the service was eventually extended to between Keelung and Kaohsiung.
  After 1980, other equipment was introduced and assigned to Tze-Chiang service, including EMU200, EMU300, E1000 Push-Pull, TEMU1000 tilting train on electrified lines, and DR2800, DR2900, and DR3000 on non-electrified lines.  From 6 July 1991 through 31 March 1992, TRA piloted business class service on selected departures.  However, due to low ticket sales, the experiment was terminated.  In 2010, TRA redesignated certain former business class coaches (BCK) on the Chu-Kuang Express as Tzu-chiang.
  As of 2013, the next generation of tilting trains, designated the TEMU2000 series, has been introduced into commercial service.  They are intended to replace the DR2800, DR2900, and DR3000 series of DMUs as the Eastern Line's electrification completes.
caption: Taipei Main Station's less-crowded underground platform with a British Rail Engineering Limited EMU100.
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