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

[TaiShang]

BYD bags mass transit order in Egypt
(China Daily) 10:40, October 24, 2017

Local residents look at a train of a new "SkyRail" monorail system, which belongs to BYD Company, at the Jiatianxia Square, in Guilin city, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 20 August 2017. [Photo: IC]


Electric vehicle maker BYD Co Ltd is planning to start trial runs of its SkyRail monorail mass transit solution in Egypt soon, making it the second overseas destination for the Chinese company after the Philippines.

Demand for mass transit systems has been increasing in both the countries－key markets in China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. BYD officials told China Daily that the company was confident of further cooperation with these countries in the future.

The transportation authority of Alexandria, Egypt's second largest city, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with BYD for the project on Oct 21. The MoU envisages a monorail project spanning 128 kilometers and plans to conduct feasibility studies. It also marks the first time that SkyRail is being showcased in the African continent.

Alexandria is a well-known historic and cultural city, but plagued by frequent traffic jams. In 2013, local authorities began exploring options to relieve transportation pressure.

"BYD's SkyRail is a clean, affordable and safe way for people to commute. It also utilizes limited road space in towns and cities while minimizing disruption to local communities," said AD Huang, general manager of BYD Middle East and Africa Auto Sales Division.

Thirteen years ago, the carmaker started manufacture and sales of passenger vehicles in Egypt. Nearly one-thirds of the taxis in Cairo are made by BYD.

Khaled Eleiwa, chairman of the Alexandria Passenger Transportation Authority, said he expects the SkyRail to start operations in the seaport city as soon as possible.

Unlike subways, BYD's Sky-Rail requires only a fifth of the cost and one third of the construction time, according to the company.

One is currently operating in Yinchuan, capital of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

Monorail is now among BYD's four key business sectors which also include cars, mobile phone components and batteries. According to Securities Times, BYD has received intent orders from 10 cities so far.

Wang Liusheng, chief analyst for the automobile industry at CSM Securities, said he expects BYD's monorail operations to realize profits and generate income this year.

But he admitted that the profits would be minuscule for now and it would be difficult to gauge whether the same would grow as per market expectations in the future.

BYD's shares declined by 3.69 percent and 2.39 percent in the Hong Kong and Shenzhen stock exchanges on Monday.

 

[JSCh]

Chinese company constructs longest railway tunnel in N Africa
2017-10-31 12:40 Ecns.cn Editor: Mo Hong'e ECNS App Download

Constructors celebrate cutting through the Gantas railway tunnel in Algeria, Oct. 30, 2017. (Photo courtesy of China Railway Construction Corporation)

(ECNS) -- On Monday the China Railway Construction Corporation Limited finished cutting through the Gantas railway tunnel in Algeria, a major project in the country's railway network, after six years of construction work.

The tunnel is located 100 kilometers west of Algiers, capital of Algeria, and composed of two separate tubes at 7,346 meters long in one lane and 7,335 meters long in the other, each for just one track. A total length of 14.68 kilometers, it is the longest tunnel in North Africa.

Geological challenges posed by the expansive rocky terrain had to be overcome during the construction of the railway tunnel, according to the CRCC.

In a ceremony to mark the breakthrough, Algerian officials said the new railway would greatly improve transportation for people and goods once completed, cutting the travel time between Algiers and Oran from four hours to two hours.

(Photo coutesy of China Railway Construction Corporation)

Wang Wenzhong, the vice president of the CRCC, said the tunnel would be a pivotal point for railways in northern Algeria and boost economic growth along the line.

The CRCC said that construction of the project created more than 4,100 jobs for local people.

 

[JSCh]

China's State-owned railway company to help construct Moscow subway
By Ni Hao Source:Global Times Published: 2017/11/2 22:53:39


State railway firm to help construct Moscow subway
China's State-owned railway company will participate in Moscow's subway construction, the first time Russia has entered into a joint venture with a foreign company in subway construction.

China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) told the Global Times on Thursday that the subway's base is nearing completion, and five shield tunneling machines, mainly used for construction under extremely cold conditions, had recently arrived in Moscow.

This portion of the subway, spanning 3.8 kilometers, is located at Moscow's southwest, which consists of three subway stations and four sections, the company said.

It added this will be completed within two-and-a-half years, and will begin service in 2020.

The contract is worth 2.29 billion yuan ($0.34 billion).

Moscow vice mayor Marat Khusnullin said China will open the subway line, which runs from Prospekt Vernadskogo station to Aminyevskoye Shosse station, at the start of 2018, Russian media Sputnik reported on Monday.

The report said approximately 500 Chinese workers and engineers will also come to Moscow for the project.

This marks the first time Russia has invited a foreign company to participate in its subway construction. It's also China's first subway project in Europe.

CRCC said Li Chude, a member of the Standing Committee and Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CRCC Party Committee, inspected the job site in October.

Premier Li Keqiang and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a joint communiqué on Wednesday, stating that the two sides should enhance cooperation on high-speed rail, including the technology, equipment and investments so a date can be set to initiate the Moscow-Kazan high-speed rail project, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The 770-kilometer railway will cost 1.3 trillion rubles ($22.4 billion). The trains will run at a maximum speed of 400 kilometers per hour, and will cut travel time from 14 hours to 3.5 hours, Xinhua reported.

 

[shi12jun]

 

[JSCh]

Chinese trainmaker establishes regional headquarters, R&D center in Australia
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-25 12:22:43|Editor: Jiaxin

CHANGCHUN, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- A subsidiary of Chinese trainmaker, China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), said Saturday it had established an Asia-Pacific headquarters and a research & development center in Australia.

The Melbourne-based headquarters will help provide technology support for train design, manufacturing and maintenance in the region, according to CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Company in northeast China's Jilin Province.

"The office will create more job and export opportunities for local train manufacturers," said Wang Run, chairman of CRRC Changchun.

The office employs 41 local workers.

In November 2016, CRRC Changchun signed a deal with Victoria to build high-capacity metro trains worth 1.5 billion U.S. dollars, the biggest metro train purchasing project in the Australian state's history.

CRRC Changchun has more than 18,000 employers and annually manufactures more than 8,000 trains.

 

[JSCh]

Belgrade-Budapest railway construction starts
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-29 10:15:07|Editor: liuxin

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic (C) speaks at the opening ceremony for the construction works at Belgrade-Stara Pazova segment of Belgrade-Budapest railway in Belgrade, Serbia on Nov. 28, 2017. Work to modernize and reconstruct the Belgrade-Stara Pazova segment of Belgrade-Budapest Railway started on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wang Huijuan)

BELGRADE, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Work to modernize and reconstruct the Belgrade-Stara Pazova segment of Belgrade-Budapest Railway started on Tuesday.

The 34.5 km-long segment, the railway's first part to start construction, is expected to be completed in three years.

The segment in Serbia, with an investment of 350 million U.S. dollars, was kicked off at a ceremony at Zemun railway station in Belgrade by Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Minister of Construction, Transportation and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic, and Wang Xiaotao, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission of China.

The railway linking Budapest with Belgrade is the first cross-border project jointly realized by Serbia, Hungary and China within the framework of the cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), said Brnabic.

It has a total length of 350 km, with 184 km in Serbia. It is designed for electrified passenger and cargo trains with a maximum speed of 200 km per hour.

Brnabic said that Serbia had the most projects among the regional participants of the Belt and Road Initiative and the 16+1 cooperation format between China and the CEEC.

"Project Belgrade-Budapest implies that Serbia is developing in a smart and a strategic way," Brnabic added.

"Our wish is to attract people to use trains, as well as those who transport cargoes across Serbia," Mihajlovic said, noting that with this project Serbia has truly become a part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Yang Zhongmin, chairman of state-owned China Railway International Company Ltd., said that the railway was a leading project in the 16+1 cooperation format and an example of the comprehensive strategic cooperation between China and Serbia.

Yang said the Chinese companies will fulfill their obligations concerning procedures, employment and environment,and adhere to Serbian regulations.

"We are looking forward to the opening of Belgrade-Budapest railway -- the day when we will together with the people of Serbia enjoy the fruits of the development of Serbia-China cooperation," Yang said.

Wang said that since the project to modernize the Belgrade-Budapest railway was initially agreed on at the 2013 China-CEEC leaders' meeting in Bucharest, China and Serbia have carried out close cooperation.

"I hope workers from the two countries will work devotedly and complete the project with high quality, to make the Belgrade-Budapest railway a road of friendship, cooperation and development and to become a new milestone of China-Serbia friendship," Wang said.

 

[JSCh]

Thailand approves environmental impact assessment for Thailand-China railway
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-04 19:20:23|Editor: Mengjie



BANGKOK, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Thailand approves the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of Thailand-China railway, paving the way for the start of construction of the first 3.5-km section this month.

According to website of Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, National Environment Board of the office approved a second part of EIA of the first phase of Thailand-China railway during a meeting on Nov. 30 after approving the first part earlier this year, which means the EIA of the high-speed project is finally approved.

"The next step after the approval of the EIA would be the construction, and we selected Dec. 21 to be the date to begin the work," said Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith during a press conference at the ministry on Monday.

Arkhom told Xinhua earlier on Nov. 24 during the 22th meeting of Joint Committee on Railway Cooperation between Thailand and China that Department of Highways of his ministry would be the one to build the first 3.5-km section, while the construction of the remaining 249 km will start gradually later after being put out to tender next year.

The first phase of the high-speed project, linking Bangkok and the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, is set to cost some 179 billion baht (5.4 billion U.S. dollars) and would become Thailand's first high-speed railway.

Arkhom also said during the 22th meeting that Thailand and China had already begun negotiation on the second phase of the project, which will link Nakhon Ratchasima with Nong Khai on Thai-Lao border as the project is set to finally connect with China-Lao railway to form an artery railway from Kunming in southern China to Bangkok.

 

[JSCh]

As China, Nepal try to clear last hurdles for new train route, India’s anxiety is aggravated
By Zhang Yiqian Source:Global Times Published: 2017/12/5 19:02:40

Sino-Nepalese railway will boost trade between multiple countries

○ A team of Chinese railway officials and experts recently visited Nepal to assess the feasibility of cross-border railway connectivity

○ Talks of a China-Nepal railway have been active for years, with the Chinese government pushing for its development in order to benefit both sides economically and culturally

○ Expert say the construction of the railway on Nepal's side will be affected by the upcoming Nepalese elections

People ride atop a train in Janakpur, Nepal. Photo: VCG

A team of high-level Chinese officials and experts recently completed a land inspection trip in Nepal for the construction of a China-Nepal railway.

The team of 23 was led by Zheng Jian, deputy director of National Railway Administration of China, who met with the Nepali Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport on November 10, after completing field trips to Gyirong, Pokhara and Lumbini.

According to the Kathmandu Post, Nepali Department of Railways spokesperson Prakash Bhakta Upadhayaya said that the Chinese team resolved many technical issues, especially geological ones.

"Altitude variation between Syaprubeshi and Gyirong and the gap created between Indian and Tibetan tectonic plates after the 2015 earthquake were major concerns. This Chinese team of experts has cleared out our concerns, paving way for development of railroads in the country," Upadhayaya told the Kathmandu Post.

He said that the Chinese team has assured the technical support required for this project. Nepal and China have also agreed to expedite cooperation in the field of cross-border railway connectivity.

Long in the making

Sun Lizhou, an international relations expert from Tsinghua University, has followed the progress of the project closely. He told the Global Times that time varies from project to project, from the moment an inspection team is sent out until construction begins.

The development of projects between China and Nepal has been affected by geopolitics.

Over the years, China and Nepal have held several rounds of talks, both formal and informal, about possible cross-border railways, especially under the Belt and Road initiative.

In 2006, Qiangba Puncog, the then-chairman of the government of China's Tibet Autonomous Region, told Sharma Oli, who was then deputy prime minister of Nepal, that the Qinghai-Tibet railway would be extended from Lhasa to Xigaze, Tibet Autonomous Region and then to the Sino-Nepalese border.

In March 2016, the Nepali prime minister signed 10 agreements with China during the Boao Forum for Asia, including plans to establish railways between the two countries.

In May 2017, during a bilateral meeting in Beijing, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang told Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara that China was willing to push for the steady development of basic infrastructure projects between the two countries, such as road and railway construction.

There were further meetings between China and Nepal in September of this year, when Mahara held a bilateral delegation-level meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi while visiting Beijing.

Soon after this year's 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, a high-level Chinese delegation was dispatched to Nepal to carry out an inspection of the technical feasibility of the railway.

China's National Railway Administration said that, in Nepal, China has made developing the cross-border railway "a high priority," according to Xinhua News Agency.

On the Chinese side, the extension of the railway from Xigaze in Tibet to the China-Nepal border port of Gyirong is being carried out and will be completed by 2020.

The railway is part of China's greater plan to connect neighboring countries with roads and railways in every direction. Foreign media outlets have commented that China is executing "railway diplomacy."

Toward the West, there are three China-Europe cargo train rails, two rails between China and Kazakhstan and discussions of a railway project connecting China, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Iran.

To the South, the China-Laos railway is expected to be finished by the end of 2020, and Thailand has recently approved a China-Thailand rail to begin construction this year.

Boost in cross-border trade

For Chinese companies trading with Nepal, the most convenient means of transportation is rail shipping from cities in Tibet to the Nepal's capital, Kathmandu. The railway's extension from Xigaze to Gyirong is highly anticipated.

The Guangdong-Tibet-Central South Asia freight train was launched based on the premise that it would link China and Nepal, an official in Lhasa involved with the project, who preferred not to be named, told the Global Times in a previous report.

"The China-Nepal railway remains a bottleneck for the economic corridor of South Asia, as the most challenging part is still in Nepal," he said.

Many experts also look forward to the railway. Sun told the Global Times that if China and Nepal are connected by rail, trade volume will be increased, with China receiving an all-new market with a 29 million population.

Sun thinks inconvenient transportation is the primary reason why Nepal's economy has fallen behind other Asian nations. Presently, a 1,389-kilometer shared border separates China and Nepal, but there are only two trading posts, both on roads, along the route.

Furthermore, after the railway is completed, the development of cross-border trade between Bhutan, Bangladesh and China via Nepal will also thrive.

When Sun visited Nepal in 2016, he spoke with more than 200 people from all walks of life, asking for their honest opinions about the China-Nepal railway. Most showed their support.

Sun also believes that the China-Nepal railway will be advantageous to Nepal's national unity, as it could as it could encourage Nepal to maintain national unity and lessen its reliance on India.

"It will provide freedom and make it smoother to select suitable markets for the Nepalese. It will help Nepal to manage the trade deficit. It will play an important role to develop and flourish the trade, economic, social, cultural, religious and practical relations between China and Nepal," said Prem Sagar Poudel, Chairman of the Nepal-China Mutual Cooperation Society.

Pressure from India

When news of a Chinese surveying team arriving in Nepal got out, there was a strong response from the Indian side. There were also reports of Nepal "choosing China" as a new strategic partner so as to lower its dependence on, or "counterbalancing" against, India. Media reported the railway as "a bid to reduce landlocked Nepal's dependence on India for supplies."

Thinktank researchers in India also expressed concern that China's Qinghai-Tibet railway could impact India's national security by having the ability to send troops and war-time supplies directly to border regions.

Tsinghua's international relations expert, Sun, told the Global Times that India has been concerned about the construction of the China-Nepal railway.

"For years, India fully penetrated Nepal's government, army and main political parties, preventing Nepal from getting closer to China," he said.

Poudel told the Global Times that India doesn't want Nepal to fall out of its control.

"India clearly knows that if Nepal and China's relationship becomes strong, then India can't use Nepal's natural resources like now. They will lose the monopoly over water resources, herbs, mines etc.," he said.

Sun thinks China should push forward for the development of the project even if it makes India "a little uncomfortable."

But the continuation of the railway on Nepal's side will be affected largely by the upcoming results of Nepal's national election, he added.

"Foreign pressure and interruptions can delay the Chinese railway line project, but no one can stop this project. Its process is moving ahead in a slow motion, but it is moving continuously nonetheless," Poudel said.

 

[JSCh]

https://twitter.com/x/status/941150861203345408

1st China-Laos railway tunnel holing through
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-14 00:06:40|Editor: Mu Xuequan



VIENTIANE, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Ban Somsanook No. 2 Tunnel, the first tunnel along the China-Laos railway has been bored through in Laos' Vientiane Province with the length of 301 meters.

Bai Jian, representative of Sino Corporation Engineering Bureau 15 Co., Ltd, the tunnel project contractor, told Xinhua on Wednesday that the tunnel has been constructed safely with high quality.

The geological conditions of the tunnel area are clay, mudstone and sandstone with high safety risk and difficulties for construction.

Since the beginning of building the tunnel, the project department has strictly followed the design and requirements, and has always put safety management and quality control in the first place, said Cheng Pingjun, project manager of Sino Corporation Engineering Bureau 15 Co., Ltd, on Wednesday.

"I feel proud of participating the construction of the tunnel and the railway, one of the most important projects in Laos," Soukthavy Keosouvanh, a Lao translator working with the Bureau 15, adding that the railway, when ready in the future, will bring convenience and benefits to Lao people.

Chindasack Nhotmanhkho, general manager of NTP, a Lao company supplying fuel to China-Laos railway construction contractors said, "I feel proud to support such a big project like this."

The China-Laos railway is promoted by leaders of the two countries as one of interconnectivity projects. Construction of the railway began in December 2016 and bridges, roadbed and other sections were progressed smoothly along the route.

The China-Laos railway has a length over 414 kilometers, linking Mohan-Boten border gate in northern Laos and capital Vientiane. Operating speed on the route is designed at 160 km per hour. The railway is expected to open to traffic in December 2021.

 

[JSCh]

Thailand approves environmental impact assessment for Thailand-China railway
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-04 19:20:23|Editor: Mengjie



BANGKOK, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Thailand approves the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of Thailand-China railway, paving the way for the start of construction of the first 3.5-km section this month.

According to website of Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, National Environment Board of the office approved a second part of EIA of the first phase of Thailand-China railway during a meeting on Nov. 30 after approving the first part earlier this year, which means the EIA of the high-speed project is finally approved.

"The next step after the approval of the EIA would be the construction, and we selected Dec. 21 to be the date to begin the work," said Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith during a press conference at the ministry on Monday.

Arkhom told Xinhua earlier on Nov. 24 during the 22th meeting of Joint Committee on Railway Cooperation between Thailand and China that Department of Highways of his ministry would be the one to build the first 3.5-km section, while the construction of the remaining 249 km will start gradually later after being put out to tender next year.

The first phase of the high-speed project, linking Bangkok and the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, is set to cost some 179 billion baht (5.4 billion U.S. dollars) and would become Thailand's first high-speed railway.

Arkhom also said during the 22th meeting that Thailand and China had already begun negotiation on the second phase of the project, which will link Nakhon Ratchasima with Nong Khai on Thai-Lao border as the project is set to finally connect with China-Lao railway to form an artery railway from Kunming in southern China to Bangkok.

Thai cabinet okays construction of Thailand-China railway
Tuesday, December 19, 2017, 22:57 By Xinhua

BANGKOK - Thai cabinet on Tuesday approved an agreement to start the construction of the first phase of Thailand-China railway on Dec 21, said Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith during a press conference here on Tuesday.

The cabinet also approved the Department of Highways of the Thai Transport Ministry to build the first 3.5-kilometer section, the minister said.

A ground breaking ceremony is set to be held there on Dec 21, while the second section of 11 km, the third of 119.5 km and the fourth of 119 km are to open for bidding later

State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Highways on Wednesday to authorize the department to do the job, said acting governor of SRT Anont Luangboriboon during the press conference.

ALSO READ: China's envoy calls for boost in Sino-Thai ties post Congress

The first 3.5 km section is located between two current railway stations, Klang Dong and Pang Asok in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima.

Thanin Somboon, Director-General of Department of Highways, said in a press release for media on Tuesday that the department is ready for the construction work and would build the first section and a good example for other sections.

Thanin added that the construction would be a great chance for both Thai and Chinese engineers to learn together.

A ground breaking ceremony is set to be held there on Dec 21, while the second section of 11 km, the third of 119.5 km and the fourth of 119 km are to open for bidding later.

The 253 km project is set to cost some 179 billion baht (US$5.4 billion). The Chinese side is responsible for the design of the railway, supervision of the construction and supplying trains, signal systems, among others.

READ MORE: Thailand approves contract of Thailand-China railway project

Once completed, the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima railway with a maximum speed of 250 km per hour will be the first standard gauge high-speed railway of the country.

However, to finally form an artery railway linking Thailand, Laos and China, a 355 km second phase linking Nakhon Ratchasima with Nong Khai on the border with Laos has to be built.

Arkhom said that Thailand and China had begun to discuss the second phase.

 

[TaiShang]

Boston receives ‘Made in China’ subway trains

By Li Yan (People's Daily Online) 17:04, December 25, 2017

The first subway trains manufactured by China for Boston’s new Orange Line were recently shipped to the city, its manufacturer said on Monday, China News Agency reported.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has displayed the “Christmas gift” from China on its Twitter account.

Testing of the prototype has begun, the agency said, adding that it will take months to test the rest of the trains after they are shipped to the US.

The subway trains rolled off the production line in October.

State-owned train maker CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Railway Rolling Stock Corp, is the first Chinese company to export its subway trains to the United States with complete Chinese intellectual property.

CRRC built its first train manufacturing base in the US in September 2015. The base, which can assemble, test, and provide after-sales service, is expected to come into use at the beginning of 2018 for local production of subway trains.

MBTA forecasts that the new Orange Line will be put into use in 2019.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2017/1225/c90000-9308323.html

 

[JSCh]

Dec 26, 2017 04:14 PM BUSINESS & TECH
Chinese Consortium Wants to Build Malaysia-Singapore Railway
By Lu Bingyang, Chen Lixiong and Teng Jing Xuan

A consortium, led by China Railway Corp., plans to submit a high-speed rail proposal that will emphasize China’s strengths in railway construction, including its experience building a high-speed railway in the tropics. Photo: Visual China

A consortium led by China Railway Corp. (CRC) intends to submit a proposal for the planned Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail that would link Malaysia with its southern neighbor, personnel from the national rail operator told Caixin.

Malaysia’s MyHSR Corp. and Singapore’s SG HSR Private Ltd., which were formed after the two countries’ governments signed a high-speed rail agreement last year, announced Wednesday that they would be accepting bids for a railway “assets company” until June 2018.

A deputy general manager of CRC, Huang Min, will lead a group of at least eight companies — including China Communications Construction Co. Ltd., China Investment Corp. and the Export-Import Bank of China — to work on a proposal, which has not been submitted yet, the CRC staffer told Caixin.

A number of companies from other countries, including Japan, South Korea, France and Germany, also intend to submit proposals, the staffer said.

The assets company will be tasked with designing, building, financing and maintaining the trains, tracks and communications systems for the high-speed railway, which is expected to be completed by 2026.

China Railway is very confident about the Chinese consortium’s chances, sources close to the state-owned operator said.

Chinese railway companies already have a significant presence in Southeast Asia. CRRC Corp., a member of the consortium and the world’s largest rolling stock manufacturer, makes more than 70% of the trains used in Malaysia, a CRRC staffer told Caixin. On Aug. 9, construction began on Malaysia’s 55 billion ringgit ($13.4 billion) East Coast Rail Link, which China Communications Construction is building.

The Chinese consortium’s planned high-speed rail proposal will emphasize China’s main strengths in railway construction, including the fact that it is the only country to have experience building a high-speed railway in the tropics (in Hainan province), sources said.

The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail will mark a major milestone for the Trans-Asian Railway, an ambitious United Nations project that since the 1950s has attempted to build a continuous link between Istanbul and Singapore. The new link is also important to China as part of the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link, a Belt and Road plan to plug Southeast Asia into China’s domestic high-speed rail network.

Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are currently seven hours apart by rail, and the 350-kilometer (217.5 mile) high-speed railway is expected to cut down the journey between the cities to 90 minutes, linking eight stations.

 

[JSCh]

Argentina receives shipment of Chinese cargo locomotives
New China TV
Published on Jan 3, 2018

Argentina received a shipment of eight Chinese locomotives on Wednesday. The locomotives will be integrated into the Belgrano Cargo line, a key branch for the country. The line's route crosses though the main zones of agricultural production in northern Argentina and connects with the export pole of Puerto de Rosario in the east of the country.

The machines were produced by the company CRRC, which is a subsidiary of the CRRC group, a Chinese business that deals with the development and production of trains and construction machinery. The total purchase includes 3,500 wagons, plus 107 locomotives, along with machinery, tools, spare parts, and containers.

 

[AndrewJin]

Argentina receives shipment of Chinese cargo locomotives
New China TV
Published on Jan 3, 2018

Argentina received a shipment of eight Chinese locomotives on Wednesday. The locomotives will be integrated into the Belgrano Cargo line, a key branch for the country. The line's route crosses though the main zones of agricultural production in northern Argentina and connects with the export pole of Puerto de Rosario in the east of the country.

The machines were produced by the company CRRC, which is a subsidiary of the CRRC group, a Chinese business that deals with the development and production of trains and construction machinery. The total purchase includes 3,500 wagons, plus 107 locomotives, along with machinery, tools, spare parts, and containers.

Good news

 

[JSCh]

China-built railway in southern Sri Lanka starts track-laying
Source: Xinhua | 2018-01-13 12:30:18 | Editor: huaxia

Photo taken on Jan. 12, 2018 shows the track-laying ceremony of Matara-Kataragama railway extension project held in Matara, southern Sri Lanka. (Xinhua/Pradeep Pathirana)

COLOMBO, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The track-laying commencement of the first phase of the China-built Matara-Kataragama railway extension project has been held in Matara in southern Sri Lanka.

The first phase of the project includes constructing a railway service from Matara to Beliatta, in the south of the island country.

Sri Lankan State Minister for State Enterprise Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said during the ceremony on Friday that the Sri Lankan government was hoping to finish the first phase of the railway project in the coming months, which will benefit the public and tourists.

"On behalf of the president and the Sri Lankan government, I would like to thank the Chinese government for this historic event. The extension is a historic development which will hugely benefit the public transport sector as well as the country's tourism sector," Abeywardena said.

"Successive governments in the past have tried to implement this project. Due to the assistance of the Chinese government and the Chinese company, this project will soon be a reality," the minister added.

The Matara-Kataragama railway project is the first new railway line constructed in Sri Lanka since the island country gained independence in 1948.

The project, funded by the EXIM Bank of China on a concessional loan, is being constructed by China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) in consultation with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation and the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau.

Vice President of CMC Zhao Jun said the railway extension project, which was under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, is a key project closely related to the development of Sri Lanka, since in future the railway will connect many industrial areas in the south of the country.