advertisement

---

China's Ministry of Railways recently awarded contracts totaling about $1.2 billion to ALSTOM Transport to supply regional trains and locomotives.

Under a $765 million contract, ALSTOM in partnership with the Changchun Railway Co. will supply 60 regional trains. The companies also will provide a technology transfer, enabling 51 of the trains to be built locally. ALSTOM will supply three complete trainsets, six trainset kits and equipment for the remaining 51 trainsets from its Savigliano, Italy, and La Rochelle, France, facilities.

The eight-car trains are based on ALSTOM’s PENDOLINO technology for the car body, but will not feature a tilting system. Scheduled to begin service in 2007, the cars are based on ALSTOM’s new Electrical Multiple Unit technology.

Under a $435 million contract, ALSTOM in partnership with Datong Electric Locomotive Co. will supply 180 high-power double locomotives. The companies will produce 12 units and provide a technology transfer to enable the other 168 units to be built locally. The ministry plans to use the locomotives to move freight on the Datong-to-Qinhuangdao line.