Taiwan ? Taiwan’s new high-speed train system incorporating Shinkansen bullet train technology for the first time outside Japan started operations Friday.

With a maximum speed of 300 kph, the Taiwan High Speed Rail train covers the 345 kilometers between Taipei in the north and Kaohsiung, the second largest city on the island, in the south in 90 minutes.

A section of the line between Taipei and neighboring city Banciao will not open until February, because of a delay in construction.

The train will do 19 round trips a day for the time being, but more are scheduled.