London subway buys Chinese train parts

China Railway Rolling Stock unit bags $10 million long-term supply contract from Underground to provide equipment

China Railway Rolling Stock Corp said on Jan 15 that its overseas subsidiary has won a $10 million order from London Underground.

Delkor Rail, an overseas subsidiary of its unit CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co, has signed a long-term supply contract with Transport for London for the supply of underground-train parts.

Industry experts say the deal is testimony to China's growing presence in the global high-speed railway market.

"Chinese high-speed rail companies' presence in the global market will expand in the next three to five years," says Cao Gangcai, vice-chief economist at CRRC Corp.

The rail firm's technical strength, research and development capability and equipment have been used in more than 100 countries and regions. The growing global infrastructure sector will spur demand for more rail products, he says.

That said, it will still take some time before other countries fully accept Chinese technologies and China's high-speed rail products, Cao says.

Delkor Rail, a leading supplier of quality noise- and vibration-attenuation products and services, is fully owned by CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive.

Its technical expertise and quality components have been utilized in construction projects in countries and regions including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The company has been exploring the European and American markets in recent years, CRRC officials say.

The order from Transport for London will help expand the company's presence in the United Kingdom and open doors to other European markets, it says.

Generically referred to as "the Tube", the London Underground, which opened in 1863, is the world's oldest underground railway system and carries more than 1 billion passengers a year.

The London transport department has come out with several renovation plans for its subway lines. Most of the railway tracks and facilities are aging and need upgrades.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.

(China Daily European Weekly 01/22/2016 page28)