November 22, 2005. Copyright, 2005, Graphic News. All rights reserved

China plans 120-strong ÒbulletÓ train network

LONDON, November 22, Graphic News: China is set to place an order for 60 Japanese high-speed Shinkansen ÒbulletÓ trains to upgrade the countryÕs railway system just a week after doing a similar deal with a German group.

The trains will be modelled on East Japan Railway CoÕs high-speed ÒHayateÓ trains, which travel at up to 275km/h (170mph), according to JapanÕs Kyodo News agency.

Manufactured by a consortium including Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Hitachi Ltd., Nippon Sharyo Ltd. and Tokyu Car Corp., the Hayate is JR EastÕs latest and fastest Shinkansen bullet train. The Hayate, which costs an average of around US$2.1 million (250 million yen, £1,2m, 1.8m euro) per car, is TokyoÕs bid for ChinaÕs high-speed train system to be built between Beijing and Shanghai.

The order comes a week after GermanyÕs Siemens AG, with its Chinese partner company, Tangshan Locomotive & Rolling Stock Works, signed a contract in Berlin to supply 60 high-speed trains to China.

The first three of the CRH3, 290-km/h (180-mph) passenger trains and key locomotive parts will be designed and manufactured in SiemensÕ plant in Krefeld-Uerdingen, Germany. The rest of the trains will be built at TangshanÕs plant in north ChinaÕs Hebei Province.

The CRH 3 is based on the ÒVelaroÓ family, which includes the 63-strong German ICE3 fleet and the 26 Spanish AVE 103 variants now being delivered. Each eight-car train will be around 200m-long (660ft-long), with seats for more than 600 passengers.

The German trains are due to be delivered in 2008, and will initially be used on the 200Êkm/h (125mph) Beijing to Tianjin passenger route which is now under construction ready for completion in time for the Beijing Olympic Games. 

ChinaÕs high-speed railway project is worth over $84.3 billion (10 trillion yen, £48.9bn, 72bn euro). Over the next 15 years, China plans to lay 12,000km (7,200 miles) of rail track for high-speed passenger trains.
/ENDS