2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Matra VAL256, Taipei Metro 20210509: Subscriptshoe9· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2. Taipei VAL256: Traininteriorguy· CC BY 4.0
what is it?
The Taipei Metro VAL 256 is the first generation of automated guideway transit rolling stock to be used on the Wenhu (Brown) line of Taipei Metro. A total of 51 2-car train sets were built by GEC Alsthom from 1989 to 1993, for a total of 102 cars. They entered service in 1996 as the first trains on the newly opened Metro system.
who runs it
base stats
Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.
fun facts
- First built 30 years ago, in 1996.
- 13.8 m long: about 3 cars parked nose to tail.
- Still in service after 41 years.
metro: Urban rapid transit: frequent, high-capacity trains, often underground.
spec sheet
- built
- 1996
- in service from
- 1985
- status
- in service
- number built
- 117
- kind
- metro
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇹🇼 Taiwan
- builders
- Matra, Alstom
- operators
- Taipei Metro
- top speed
- 80 km/h
- power
- —
- gauge
- 1,880 mm broad gauge
- wheel arrangement
- Taipei: A-A+A-A
- formation
- 2 cars per unit, 2 units per train (Taipei), Single unit, max of 3 cars per unit (Chicago), Single car per train (Jacks…
- length
- 13.8 m
- capacity
- 94 passengers
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q3552886, Wikipedia: Taipei Metro VAL256 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.