The E1000 series was built to replace the
EMU100 series. In 1994, the TRA came to an agreement with a
South Korean manufacturer
Hyundai Precision & Industries to build 64 locomotives and 400 passenger cars for $7.2 billion
NTD. Hyundai manufactured the passenger cars, while the locomotives were built by
Union Carriage & Wagon and
GEC-Alsthom. The first arrived in April 1996 and passenger services commenced on September 26 of the same year. However, the TRA soon reported that the trains suffered from frequent traction motor failures and insufficient power delivery due to poor maintenance, oftentimes requiring a third locomotive to be attached to the rear as a backup. Due to the poor quality of stainless-steel painting processes at the time of production, the coaches were also not painted, but rather had stickers applied, which began to fade, mottle, and peel after exposure to weather and sunshine in service. The multitude of problems plaguing the class earned them the derisive nickname "Beggar Gang Train" among enthusiasts and the press. The poor state of repair, combined with paying-off of the maintenance contract's performance bond following Hyundai's merger with Rotem, and subsequent withdrawal of support staff from Taiwan in 2003, prompted TRA to sue the company in 2005 for $1.7 billion NTD in damages; however, the lawsuit never came to fruition. Nevertheless, in response, Minister of Transportation and Communications
Lin Ling-san banned South Korean companies from participating in future transportation bids until problems with the E1000 and other South Korean-produced equipment are resolved. By 2010, remedial work to the locomotives done under supervision of
Alstom had improved reliability, and the carriages began undergoing repainting to resolve the paint issues. Despite the problems, however, the E1000 series has been a regular fixture within the
Tze-chiang family since entry into service owing to the large class size, and with the
electrification of railroads, the E1000 has begun to replace
DMU on East Coast
Tze-chiang services. ==Features==