China Exports of HSR, Trains, Metro, Tram, Rolling Stocks, etc: News

[JSCh]

Spotlight: China's top train maker brings expertise, boosts industrial development in Malaysia
Source: Xinhua | 2016-08-17 09:55:09 | Editor: huaxia
by Lin Hao, Liu Tong

BATU GAJAH, Malaysia, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Having built its regional manufacturing center in Malaysia, the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) is also planning to expand its operations at the facility with an eye to exploring the ASEAN market.

More significantly, the Chinese top train maker hopes to benefit Malaysia by bringing expertise and creating opportunities for the local industries.

Located in the town of Batu Gajah, some 200 km from the capital of Kuala Lumpur, the CRRC Rolling Stock Center was designated as the company's manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia.

The ground-breaking ceremony of the 50-acre complex in 2013 was attended by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. The facility was put into trial run in early 2015 before full operation kicked in last October, according to Li Hong, general manager of the rolling stock center.

The first products built in the rolling stock center, six trains for Malaysia's Electric Train Service (ETS), are already operational. The center is now working on the second order of 15 trains for Ampang Line of the light rapid transit (LRT) network in Kuala Lumpur area, expected to be manufactured by the year-end.

"We now have a stable capacity to manufacture up to 200 carriages per year. We are also building facility for car overhaul service of 150 cars per year," Li told Xinhua.

He said future operations of the rolling stock center would focus on three areas: manufacturing, overhaul as well as service and maintenance.

"On manufacturing, we have the capacity to build trains for major railway, intercity line and urban mass transit; we could build subway cars, LRT cars, as well as for high-speed rail, electric locomotive or even magnetic levitation cars; we could build cars both for meter gauge and standard gauge," he said.

"On overhaul, we are building our facility and operation is expected to start by the year-end or early next year."

The Malaysian government is working on several plans to expand and renovate its railway network, on top of which is the cross-border high-speed railway linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

With an estimated cost of over 10 billion U.S. dollars, the project has attracted interest from all major players in the high-speed rail, including China.

"We have taken account the prospect of building high-speed trains in this facility when planning," Li said, "The workshop and the equipment are all capable for high-speed trains."

LOCALIZATION A PRIORITY

Apart from its operation plans, the company has attached great importance to localization in a bid to benefit the locals and the industries.

While training the local employee for their work, the company has adjusted its management system that laid emphasis on incentive to adapt to the local culture. Their effort has already bear fruits.

"More than 80 percent of its total staff and more than 90 percent of the technicians at the production line are locally recruited, as well as two of its four department chiefs," said Li.

"We also have our eyes on the future, we have sent some of the staff to China for studies, fully funded by the company. We hoped that they could strengthen our management team in the future."

For procurement, the rolling stock center has set up an office dedicated to finding, cultivating and supporting local suppliers. According to the company, it now has some 300 local suppliers, ranging from equipment to transportation.

"The purpose of the manufacturing facility here is not simply sending in Chinese technicians to do the manufacturing and producing. We want to help boost local economic development and train local experts in railway transportation," said Li.

 

[AndrewJin]

Insight or opinion piece. It summarizes the rail projects quite well.

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Chinese rail constructor quickens steps into overseas market
Last Updated: 2016-08-08 15:26 | CE.cn
By Qi Hui

Recently, China Railway Corporation provided the situation of Chinese railway "going out" and key projects construction. "At present, Chinese railway is speeding up to the world and a group of projects have seen major progress." Yang Zhongmin, the deputy chief engineer of China Railway Corporation and Chairman and Party Secretary of China Railway International Limited, said that China has become a power with the largest high-speed rail construction and operation scale, the most comprehensive technologies and rich management experience in the world.

Yang Zhongmin gave a detailed introduction to the four major advantages of Chinese railway. The first is advanced technology: a Chinese high-speed rail technology system with completely independent IPR has been established for Chinese railway, which reaches the world top level. The second is safety and reliability: a high-speed rail safety risk management system has been set up integrated with infrastructure, mobile equipment, comprehensive detection, disaster prevention and mitigation and emergency rescue. The third is strong compatibility: compatibility and connectivity are realizable between Chinese high-speed rail technologies and those of other countries. The forth is high cost performance: Chinese railway departments have rich and mature construction and operation management experience as to high-speed rail projects, with strong competitive advantages in respect of technical economy.

In recent years, China Railway has made pragmatic cooperation with foreign ones, achieving a series of achievements.

China-Laos railway covers a total length of 417.8 km. The construction of the leading section Vientiane station and related projects have begun on last December 2.

The first phase of Indonesia Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail covers a total length of 142 km, which is expected to be put in use in 3 years. At present, the project construction is progressing satisfactorily, with franchise agreement of the joint venture company made and entered into, construction license of guide section issued and construction advanced orderly.

Hungary-Serbia railway covers a total length of 350km, which is progressing smoothly at present. On December 23, 2015, a launching ceremony was held in Novi Sad, the second biggest city of Serbia, for the construction of the Serbia section of Hungary-Serbia Railway. Recently, the representatives of both China Railway International Limited and Hungarian State Railways entered into negotiation to reach a consensus on the promotion of all work.

In addition, China Railway Corporation has also monitored with more efforts such overseas railway projects as Malaysia-Singapore High-speed Rail, Sino-Mongolia Railway, British High-speed Rail, American California High-speed Rail, Twin Ocean Railroad, Tanzania Zambia Railway and Moroccan Railway. All have achieved positive progresses.

In the first five months of this year, China's railway has reached a passenger delivery volume of 1.11 billion person-times, growing 12.3 percent year on year, and a goods delivery volume of 1.04 billion tons, with the top total transportation volume in the world. In recent years, Chinese enterprises have promoted a batch of major overseas railway projects actively, reaching five aspects of effects.

Historic breakthrough has been achieved for high-speed rail "going out". The construction of the guide section of Indonesia Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail has been launched. The MOU and survey and design contract on Moscow-Kazan high-speed rail have been made and entered into, with roadmap and schedule determined. Business contract on the high-speed renovation project of Tehran-Mashhad railway has been made and entered into. The scientific research work of Delhi-Chennai high-speed rail has been promoted steadily.

Progress has been made in the major connectivity projects. China-Laos railway has entered into the implementation stage last December, becoming the first overseas railway project which is adopted with Chinese standards and equipment wholly, constructed and operated by China and connected with China directly. China-Thai railway project has been launched last December and is expected to start construction in the second half of this year. The construction of Tongjiang Sino-Russian railway bridge project is sped up. The unified brand of Sino-EU regular train is formally used from June this year.

The construction of African railway network is sped up. Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, the first railway exported to Africa with all Chinese standards, is expected to be completed totally this year as the "aorta" of the two countries. Angola Benguela Railway was completed and opened to traffic. Smooth progress was made in the construction of Nairobi-Mombasa railway. A number of important railways such as Moroccan high-speed rail and Ugandan eastern railway have been promoted actively, and African "four-line and six-way" railway network begins to take shape.

The railway markets in Europe and Latin America have been opened. A launching ceremony was held last December for the Serbia section project of Hungary-Serbia railway, and the "16+1" cooperation flagship project of central and eastern Europe has seen a good start. CRRC's multiple units exported to Macedonia has been put into use, indicating the landing of the first order of Chinese enterprises in conformity with European TSI standards. CRRC has discussed with SIEMENS on the cooperation in respect of the railway sector of third-party markets. Argentine Belgrano freight railway repair project is progressing smoothly. The basic research work on the feasibility of Brazil-Peru Twin Ocean Railroad is advanced orderly, with staged achievements.

Positive progress has been made for urban rail transit's "going out". Pakistani Lahore Orange Line is in full operation. The first phase of Ethiopian capital light rail-the first urban light rail in East Africa- is in full trial operation. Cat Linh-Ha Dong line, the first urban railway in Hanoi, Vietnam will be put into operation by the end of this year. The bidding of Australian Canberra subway project was won, indicating that China-invested enterprises achieve the "zero breakthrough" of Oceanian traffic infrastructure field. The biddings of Boston 284-subway-vehicle and Chicago 846-metro-vehicle projects were won successively, vehicle manufacturing base in the United States is under construction and Chinese rail transit vehicle products have been landed to the United States for the first time.

Dragon's inclusive growth

 

[ahojunk]

China wants to revive Brazil high-speed train project: sources
Fri Aug 12, 2016 6:47am EDT
By Alonso Soto and Leonardo Goy | BRASILIA

Chinese firms are pushing to revive an $11 billion high-speed-train project to link Brazil's two largest cities, shelved after the South American nation descended into recession and political turmoil, three sources familiar with the talks told Reuters.

China's ambassador to Brasilia told interim President Michel Temer on Wednesday that Chinese train builders and operators want to participate in Brazil's biggest ever infrastructure project, delayed repeatedly because of doubts about its viability and concession models, the sources said.

Temer was invited to ride the high-speed train connecting Shanghai and Hangzhou next month during a G20 summit when he will discuss the project in bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a Brazilian presidential aide said.

"The Chinese are working hard to revive the project," said the aide, who asked for anonymity because he was not allowed to speak publicly. "Brazil is not convinced yet, but is supportive of the idea."

A spokesman with the Chinese embassy in Brasilia said he did not know the content of the discussions between Temer and ambassador Li Jinzhang. Li did not immediately respond to email requests for comment.

Temer's press office declined to comment.

The project linking business hub Sao Paulo with Rio de Janeiro was seen as a big step in Brazil's quest to join the club of developed nations when it was first proposed in 2010, when the economy was booming.

The original plan was to have the high-speed rail link ready in time for the Olympics, now under way in Rio.

In 2013, the government delayed a tender for the project for the third time because of lack of interest as builders complained about the concession model.

When the economy started to sour in 2014 and then President Dilma Rousseff faced a rebellion of her allies in Congress the project was forgotten, seen as too expensive and difficult to carry through.

Now with its economy mired in recession, Brazil would have to rely on private companies to finance the ambitious project that is likely to cost more than the $11 billion once estimated by the government, said Temer's aide and another government official involved in the discussions.

As initially envisaged, the government planned to use state-run banks to partly finance the construction of the 400-km (250-mile) railway.

The high-speed railway was the pet project of Rousseff, who was suspended from office in May pending an impeachment trial in the Senate over accusations she doctored the fiscal accounts to bolster her re-election chances in 2014.

Her vice-president Temer took over with the promise of pulling the economy out of what could be its worst ever recession with a mix of market-friendly policies that include the sale of infrastructure concessions.

Chinese companies interested in the bullet train include China Railway Construction Corp Ltd, a Brazilian government official said.

The company could not be immediately reached for comment.

Chinese companies believe the project is economically viable, but want the Brazilian government to propose a new concession model before making a final decision, a Chinese official familiar with the discussion told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Major railway players such as France's Alstom, Spain's Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles SA and German's Siemens AG were interested in the original project, Brazilian officials said at the time.

($1 = 3.1399 Brazilian reais)

(Reporting by Alonso Soto and Leonardo Goy; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Adrian Croft)

 

[Echo_419]

China’s biggest high-speed train and railway equipment maker announced that its first joint venture in India has started operations over the weekend in Haryana, in an indication that Sino-India cooperation in the railways sector was poised to take off.

It is for the first time that the Beijing-based China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) – a mammoth state-owned enterprise (SOE) in China with more than 175,000 employees – was setting up a joint venture in south Asia.

A subsidiary of the company has supplied subway trains for the Rio De Janeiro Olympics.

Its first plant in North America started operations in September 2015 in Massachusetts.

The Sino-India joint venture, expected to manufacture and repair locomotive engines, is being called the CRRC Pioneer (India) Electric Company and has been set up in the Bavo Industrial sector in Haryana, on the New Delhi and Mumbai industrial corridor.

“Total investment is $ 63.4 million and the Chinese side holds 51% of the share,” the CRRC said in a statement.

“It will also provide technology support to India’s rail system, and supply electric transmission systems to oil drilling, wind power generation and mining equipment making in India,” the statement said.


“It is the first time for the company to open a plant in south Asia where one of the world’s most comprehensive rail system spans. CRRC is also the first foreign company to set up assembly line of rail transportation equipment in India after PM Narendra Modi unveiled his ambitious ‘Made in India’ campaign in 2014,” it added.

The Chinese company has been present in the Indian market since 2007, supplying subway trains, engines and other equipment.

It will, however, be the first time that CRRC begins manufacturing in India.

“Given more than 60,000 kilometres of railways in India, it is far from enough to build a single locomotive engine plant in India,” company vice-president Yu Weiping said.

“CRRC will build more plants able to produce trains, locomotive traction systems and other key parts in India,” he added.

CRRC Corporation was formed in 2015 following a merger between China CNR Corporation Limited and CSR Corporation Limited and has since focussed on foreign markets.

In March, the Delhi Metro Rail Corp and CRRC Nanjing signed a Memorandum of Understanding for supply of 19 four-car train sets for the Noida metro.

@cirr @AndrewJin @Beast

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world...ns-in-india/story-LSuBep383M83tujO3GWCZI.html

 

[AndrewJin]

China’s biggest high-speed train and railway equipment maker announced that its first joint venture in India has started operations over the weekend in Haryana, in an indication that Sino-India cooperation in the railways sector was poised to take off.

It is for the first time that the Beijing-based China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) – a mammoth state-owned enterprise (SOE) in China with more than 175,000 employees – was setting up a joint venture in south Asia.

A subsidiary of the company has supplied subway trains for the Rio De Janeiro Olympics.

Its first plant in North America started operations in September 2015 in Massachusetts.

The Sino-India joint venture, expected to manufacture and repair locomotive engines, is being called the CRRC Pioneer (India) Electric Company and has been set up in the Bavo Industrial sector in Haryana, on the New Delhi and Mumbai industrial corridor.

“Total investment is $ 63.4 million and the Chinese side holds 51% of the share,” the CRRC said in a statement.

“It will also provide technology support to India’s rail system, and supply electric transmission systems to oil drilling, wind power generation and mining equipment making in India,” the statement said.


“It is the first time for the company to open a plant in south Asia where one of the world’s most comprehensive rail system spans. CRRC is also the first foreign company to set up assembly line of rail transportation equipment in India after PM Narendra Modi unveiled his ambitious ‘Made in India’ campaign in 2014,” it added.

The Chinese company has been present in the Indian market since 2007, supplying subway trains, engines and other equipment.

It will, however, be the first time that CRRC begins manufacturing in India.

“Given more than 60,000 kilometres of railways in India, it is far from enough to build a single locomotive engine plant in India,” company vice-president Yu Weiping said.

“CRRC will build more plants able to produce trains, locomotive traction systems and other key parts in India,” he added.

CRRC Corporation was formed in 2015 following a merger between China CNR Corporation Limited and CSR Corporation Limited and has since focussed on foreign markets.

In March, the Delhi Metro Rail Corp and CRRC Nanjing signed a Memorandum of Understanding for supply of 19 four-car train sets for the Noida metro.

@cirr @AndrewJin @Beast

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world...ns-in-india/story-LSuBep383M83tujO3GWCZI.html

Good investment from CRRC, now they can sell more globally!

 

[TaiShang]

CRRC sees overseas orders soar in H1
Xinhua, August 23, 2016

Rolling stock produced by China's state-owned train maker corporation CRRC. [Photo/Xinhua]


CRRC Corp. Ltd., China's largest rail transportation equipment maker, saw its overseas orders more than double in the first half of 2016 despite the lackluster world economy, latest company data showed.

Newly signed overseas orders amounted to 14.88 billion yuan (US$2.24 billion) in H1, an increase of 126 percent year on year, according to a CRRC filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

The CRRC said a contract it won in March to build 846 metro cars for Chicago was a metro vehicle export to developed countries record for China.

In H1, the company also accepted an order for 56 diesel locomotives from Kenya, another order for 96 metro vehicles from Thailand and 76 metro cars for Delhi, India.

The overseas market expansion contributed to a 2.04 percent year-on-year increase in the CRRC's net profits, which reached 4.8 billion yuan in the period.

The company's revenue rose 1.04 percent from a year earlier to 94.21 billion yuan in H1.

CRRC said its operation faced "unprecedented challenges" in H1, as demand was affected by a slow recovery in the world economy and downward pressure in China.

Despite short-term fluctuations, the company foresees a positive trend for rail transportation equipment.

It vowed to explore more markets, reduce costs, improve efficiency and support innovation in the second half.

 

[Place Of Space]

China’s biggest high-speed train and railway equipment maker announced that its first joint venture in India has started operations over the weekend in Haryana, in an indication that Sino-India cooperation in the railways sector was poised to take off.

It is for the first time that the Beijing-based China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) – a mammoth state-owned enterprise (SOE) in China with more than 175,000 employees – was setting up a joint venture in south Asia.

A subsidiary of the company has supplied subway trains for the Rio De Janeiro Olympics.

Its first plant in North America started operations in September 2015 in Massachusetts.

The Sino-India joint venture, expected to manufacture and repair locomotive engines, is being called the CRRC Pioneer (India) Electric Company and has been set up in the Bavo Industrial sector in Haryana, on the New Delhi and Mumbai industrial corridor.

“Total investment is $ 63.4 million and the Chinese side holds 51% of the share,” the CRRC said in a statement.

“It will also provide technology support to India’s rail system, and supply electric transmission systems to oil drilling, wind power generation and mining equipment making in India,” the statement said.


“It is the first time for the company to open a plant in south Asia where one of the world’s most comprehensive rail system spans. CRRC is also the first foreign company to set up assembly line of rail transportation equipment in India after PM Narendra Modi unveiled his ambitious ‘Made in India’ campaign in 2014,” it added.

The Chinese company has been present in the Indian market since 2007, supplying subway trains, engines and other equipment.

It will, however, be the first time that CRRC begins manufacturing in India.

“Given more than 60,000 kilometres of railways in India, it is far from enough to build a single locomotive engine plant in India,” company vice-president Yu Weiping said.

“CRRC will build more plants able to produce trains, locomotive traction systems and other key parts in India,” he added.

CRRC Corporation was formed in 2015 following a merger between China CNR Corporation Limited and CSR Corporation Limited and has since focussed on foreign markets.

In March, the Delhi Metro Rail Corp and CRRC Nanjing signed a Memorandum of Understanding for supply of 19 four-car train sets for the Noida metro.

@cirr @AndrewJin @Beast

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world...ns-in-india/story-LSuBep383M83tujO3GWCZI.html

Is your job involving in infrastructure industry, dude?

 

[Echo_419]

Is your job involving in infrastructure industry, dude?

Lol no, I am still a student

CRRC sees overseas orders soar in H1
Xinhua, August 23, 2016

Rolling stock produced by China's state-owned train maker corporation CRRC. [Photo/Xinhua]


CRRC Corp. Ltd., China's largest rail transportation equipment maker, saw its overseas orders more than double in the first half of 2016 despite the lackluster world economy, latest company data showed.

Newly signed overseas orders amounted to 14.88 billion yuan (US$2.24 billion) in H1, an increase of 126 percent year on year, according to a CRRC filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

The CRRC said a contract it won in March to build 846 metro cars for Chicago was a metro vehicle export to developed countries record for China.

In H1, the company also accepted an order for 56 diesel locomotives from Kenya, another order for 96 metro vehicles from Thailand and 76 metro cars for Delhi, India.

The overseas market expansion contributed to a 2.04 percent year-on-year increase in the CRRC's net profits, which reached 4.8 billion yuan in the period.

The company's revenue rose 1.04 percent from a year earlier to 94.21 billion yuan in H1.

CRRC said its operation faced "unprecedented challenges" in H1, as demand was affected by a slow recovery in the world economy and downward pressure in China.

Despite short-term fluctuations, the company foresees a positive trend for rail transportation equipment.

It vowed to explore more markets, reduce costs, improve efficiency and support innovation in the second half.

The new CRCC factory in India is probably to fullfill that 76 metro car order

 

[ahojunk]

Congrats to Indonesia. It is the first country in SEA to get high speed rail.

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Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project gets all permits
By Chu Daye Source:Global Times Last Updated: 2016/8/22 7:23:38

Project could be completed within three years: experts

Indonesians look at scale models of Chinese-made bullet trains at an exhibition in Jakarta, Indonesia, in August 2015. File photo: CFP

Graphics: GT​

Seven months after ground was broken for Indonesia's first high-speed railway, which is being developed by a China-Indonesia joint venture, the project received a construction permit for its entire length, media reports said Sunday.

Experts said Sunday that construction should be completed within three years as planned, despite concerns that work might be delayed.

Domestic news portal caixin.com reported on Sunday that the developer of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project, PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), recently received a construction permit that covers the entire 142 kilometers line. The portal cited sources from China Railway Corp (CRC).

KCIC is a consortium consisting of CRC and four Indonesian state-owned companies.

The source told Caixin that work on the line has been progressing as planned, with absolutely no possibility of a halt, and the person noted that the Ministry of Transportation of Indonesia now lists the railway as a high-priority project.

But construction of the railway linking Jakarta and Bandung, the largest and third-largest cities in Indonesia, has been hindered by licensing woes.

After the ground-breaking ceremony on January 21, KCIC only had a permit to work on a section of 5 kilometers. By the end of June, the permit covered just 56.8 kilometers, or two-fifths of the entire length of the railway, according to Caixin.

The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, with a maximum designed speed of 350 kilometers per hour, will reduce travel time between the two cities to 40 minutes from more than three hours at present and is planned to be completed in three years, according to the CRC.

Although permits have been slower in coming than expected, KCIC can finish the project within three years, experts said.

"The consortium is capable of finishing the project within 18 months, and it took into consideration that some delays might occur during the construction phase," Wang Mengshu, academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Land acquisition, another factor affecting the progress of the project, should also go smoothly, Xu Liping, a research fellow from the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday.

"The majority of the land the railway will run through belongs to state-owned firms in Indonesia, with private land accounting for only a small part, so land acquisition should be relatively easy," Xu said, noting that the developer must pay close attention to coordination during construction work.

Differences between the national conditions of the two countries and their respective cultures should be observed, Xu said.

"The developer should also work seamlessly with local partners and abide by local laws. It should also formulate emergency action plans, including those covering security. These approaches can help safeguard construction of the railway to make progress according to its agenda," Xu said.

The construction of the railway is expected to create 40,000 jobs a year in Indonesia, according to media reports.

In March, KCIC was granted the right to operate the Jakarta-Bandung railway line for 50 years, starting from May 31, 2019.

The project is set to cost $5.13 billion.

 

[TaiShang]

900 Malaysians check out China's high-speed rail
By Luo Wangshu (China Daily) August 24, 2016

Announcement of a plan to link Kuala Lumpur with Singapore stirs public, industrial interest

Around 900 Malaysians rode the bullet train from Beijing to Tianjin on Tuesday to experience the trademark Chinese technology in the wake of last month's announcement of a planned Malaysia-to-Singapore high-speed rail link.

Fauwati Abdul Rahman, a businesswoman from Malaysia, said she was excited to ride the train.

"It is the first time I have visited China and my first time in Beijing. Actually, it my first time to take a train. In my country, I usually drive," she said.

Rahman and her friends took selfies to post on social media.

"I like the high-speed train. It is very nice and fast," she said.

Rahman was part of a trip organized by the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, which invited Malaysians－especially those with high social and economic status－to visit China and experience its high-speed rail.

"It is a great opportunity for Malaysians to experience the high-speed train since Malaysia is planning to invest in a new urban transportation system, such as the Malaysia-Singapore high-speed rail plan," said Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association.

Most of the tour members had never been to China before, and they were interested to see the railway, Khan said.

"I have taken high-speed trains in many countries, such as in Japan and in Europe. China's bullet train is comfortable," he said, noting that China has the technology and skills to build them well.

Zhou Li, director of China Railway Corporation's science and technology administration department, said, "China has mastered world-leading technology to build high-speed railways. In addition, it has experience in various environments, including extremely hot and cold weather conditions."

China's high-speed rail network covers more than 19,000 kilometers, accounting for 60 percent of the world's high-speed rail tracks.

Last month, the Singapore and Malaysia governments announced plans for a high-speed rail linking Singapore with the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. Chinese companies have shown an interest in bidding on the project, as are others from Japan, Europe and South Korea, said Khan, who served as the Malaysian ambassador to China from 1998 to 2005.

China has eyed high-speed rail projects overseas in recent years. It built the Jakarta-Bandung railway in Indonesia and the Moscow-Kazan railway in Russia.

Khan said many factors are involved in awarding the project, including technology, finance and management.

"Whoever can offer the best package will win. China has a good chance," he said.

Many Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Laos and Indonesia, also have plans to construct high-speed railways.

@powastick

 

[powastick]

Majority of Malaysian support KL Singapore HSR.

 

[TaiShang]

Majority of Malaysian support KL Singapore HSR.

Is the bidding already started? Or, is the project still on papers?

 

[powastick]

Is the bidding already started? Or, is the project still on papers?

Still on paper.
http://www.thestar.com.my/business/...eorge-kent-wins-rm101b-work-package-for-mrt2/

George Kent and China partner win RM1.01b work package for MRT2
PETALING JAYA: George Kent (M) Bhd just got another leg-up in the rail transportation sector, with a RM1.01bil work package awarded to its joint venture with China Communications Construction Co Ltd (CCCC).

The joint venture has been awarded the work package for trackworks, maintenance vehicles and work trains for the entire 52.2-km Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) mass rapid transit (MRT) alignment, also known as MRT2.

CCCC holds 51% equity in the joint venture while George Kent holds the remaining 49%.

The Malaysian engineering firm’s first notable foray into rail engineering works began in 2012 when it secured the RM1.1bil Ampang LRT systems contract.


This was followed by the appointment of its joint venture with Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd as project delivery partner for the 36-km LRT 3 from Bandar Utama to Joha Setia in Klang in September last year.

The latest contract win will be a huge boost for the firm as it is set to gain recurring income from the project, as the contract includes maintenance works for the track, once completed.

Mass Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) announced yesterday that the Package SSP-SY-204, for the engineering, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of trackworks, maintenance vehicles and works trains was awarded after a meeting by the One-Stop Procurement Committee.

MRT Corp chief executive officer Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar said the work package was among the biggest for the construction of the SSP Line.

He said CCC had good technical know-how, having handled many infrastructure projects, while George Kent had a strong presence in the Malaysian railway industry.

On the tender evaluation process, Shahril said the joint venture, which was one of seven tenderers, had fared well in the technical portion of the evaluation.

Among the criteria for technical evaluation, he said, were compliance with specifications required by MRT Corp, proposed solutions, performance level, track record, works programmes and compliance with key dates, project execution plan, maintenance plan, quality as well as site safety, health and environment assurance.

“The successful tenderer is selected on the basis of the best evaluated tender, which means the successful tenderer may not have quoted the lowest price. However, for this work package, I am pleased to announce that the successful tenderer had quoted the lowest price,” he said.

He added that under the SSP Line, all Systems Work Package contractors would have to ensure that 35% of the works would be awarded to bumiputra companies, an increase from the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line where it was 30%.

 

[ahojunk]

China is doing some pre-sales work and PR.

--------
China promises new generation high speed trains
2016-08-24 11:58

China has vast experiences building high speed rail projects across very different geographical and climatic regions. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily
​

BEIJING, Aug 23 (Sin Chew Daily) -- China Railway chief of technical management Zhou Li said if China wins the tender to construct the KL-Singapore high speed rail project, his country would provide the new generation passenger trains boasting the latest technology.

He pointed out that the new generation trains had yet to be officially named but was provisionally called the China Standard Electric Multiple Unit.

He said the new generation trains would boast a brand new design, reduced noise levels, excellent safety and more comfortable seats.

He told the Malaysian media today after accompanying the Malaysia-China Friendship Association (MCFA) delegation on a high speed train ride between Beijing and Tianjin: "The trains will have much higher standards than the existing ones because we have picked up a lot of experiences and lessons from our existing trains."

Among the visiting MCFA delegates were president Datuk Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, secretary-general Tan Kai Hee, along with representatives from the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, the Chinese Embassy to Malaysia and Hai-O Enterprise Berhad.

Zhou said this was the first time his country had welcomed a foreign delegation with over a thousand members, and the Beijing-Tianjin trip today was a historical landmark event.

Members of the Malaysian delegation have been divided into seven batches to experience China's high speed trains at different times over three days.

Zhou even instructed the control center personnel to increase the traveling speed to 310kph so that the passengers could feel the exceptional speed.

He told the media there were two different categories of high speed trains in China, one traveling at a top speed of 250kph while the other at 350kph.

He said the train they were taking today had a top speed of 310kph and a capacity of 556 passengers.

When asked on the differences between China's high speed trains and Japan's Shinkansen, Zhou said Japan only had one line traveling up to 320kph while the ordinary lines had speeds up to 260-270kph.

He mentioned that the Chinese high speed trains boasted several unique features, including different geographical locations such as the arid western deserts and more humid tropical regions.

"The high speed rail project in Hainan was constructed in a region sharing almost similar geographical and climatic conditions as Malaysia.

"This puts us ahead of our competitors," he concluded.

From left: Tan Kai Hee, Datuk Abdul Majid and Zhou Li sharing some light moments during the high speed train ride. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily​

- See more at: http://www.mysinchew.com/node/115167/tid=13#sthash.pFvyMJ4U.dpuf

 

[TaiShang]

$2.3b China-funded railway project due to start in Uganda
By Taddeo Bwambale (People's Daily Online) August 26, 2016


Construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Uganda is scheduled to start as experts from China and Africa draw up final plans for the project.

The SGR is part of a major transport network linking East African cities and suburbs in Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Kenya was first to embark on the project with construction of a 427km line Mombasa-Nairobi-Naivasha line that is expected to be operational by the end of June next year.

In Uganda the SGR will connect to the DR Congo through Kasese and Arua districts, to Rwanda through Mirama Hills in Ntungamo district and to South Sudan through Nimule in Amuru District.

So far, compensation of claimants for land along the proposed railway track has covered at least 200km across 10 surrounding districts.

Uganda awarded the contract the first phase of the project- a 273km from the Kenya border at Malaba to Kampala- to a Chinese firm, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited.

The $2.3b project will be financed through a loan from Exim Bank of China. In July, a delegation from Uganda’s finance ministry was in China to negotiate the structural details of the loan.

A team of Chinese engineers contracted by CHEC are in Uganda to assess project sites and agree on final designs for the expansive railway line.

Economic, transport link

The SGR’s is envisioned to expedite economic growth in East Africa by reducing the cost of doing business; increasing regional connectivity and enhancing regional integration.

Over 95% of all the freight movement in the region is by road, which is expensive, unsafe and unreliable. The 5% through a dilapidated meter gauge railway system.

Unlike the old meter or cape railway tracks that were built during the colonial times, the electric SGR rail is expected to have a more efficient width of 1.5 metres.

The trains will be expected to move at a speed of between 100kms and 120kms per hour while each wagon is expected to carry freight of about 4,000 tonnes.

Apart from enhancing freight and passenger transport, the ambitious railway project is expected to promote economic development along the outlying areas and promote tourism.

Initial designs for the railway line show that engineers will build an iconic bridge covering about a kilometre over River Nile, the longest river in Africa.

Apart from overseeing construction of the rail tracks and landmarks, Chinese firms are expected to supply locomotives, freight wagons and passenger coaches.