Train maker to work with European counterparts

Visitors examine a CRRC transcontinental train model at the Inno Trans 2016, the largest rail industry event in the world, which opened in Berlin on Tuesday.CHINA DAILY

CRRC showcases 'transcontinental train' at the Berlin rail industry fair

Chinese train manufacturing giant CRRC Corporation Ltd vowed to cooperate with major manufacturers in Europe to "explore new markets" in the region.

"We are quite new in exploring overseas opportunities, though we are growing very fast and we are willing to cooperate with giant firms in the United Kingdom, France and Germany to explore new markets," Cao Gangcai, the group's spokesman, told China Daily at the Berlin rail industry fair on Wednesday.

"Our strategy is growing together with them."

Cao said his company was showcasing the "concept transcontinental train" as well as smart trains and railway control systems at the three-day fair, attended by around 3,000 companies from 60 countries.

Cao said his group's overseas business has expanded rapidly in the past five years, although the focus is still in China, mainly because of the rapid growth of the nation's high-speed railway and metro network.

"At this fair, which ends on Thursday, we want to display how high-speed railways have helped speed up China's economic growth and transform the way of life of ordinary Chinese people," said Cao.

Cao said the two-deck transcontinental train, which combines passengers and freight, is still a concept.

"We offer this concept, trying to increase the awareness of connectivity," said Cao. "But the obstacles, such as technical standards, still exist."

However, he said this concept train attracted a lot of attention from visitors to the fair.

While accelerating the expansion of its domestic railway network, China has also increased exports of its technical information in recent years, partly within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, in which China aims to link southern Asian countries and Russia by regular or high-speed railway.

China Railway Group has taken lead in terms of high-speed railway cooperation in foreign countries, and Cao's company would normally become part of a deal when a bid is submitted.

He wouldn't comment on the progress of London-Birmingham high-speed railway project as China Railway Group would play a pivotal role in any bidding process.

But Cao said his group's overall export strategy will grow and expand with its European counterparts. "We can set up joint research and development centers and seek new opportunities in other countries," he said.

So far, Cao's group has set up just under 100 overseas branches and 11 research centers.

"We desire to show that by working together and improving connectivity, we can turn more market potentials into reality by putting cutting-edge technologies into use," said Cao.