Chinese high-speed trains first exported to Europe

2023-10-25

Source: Jilin Daily

On October 17, in the session of the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co Ltd signed a high-speed train procurement deal with the Serbian transportation authorities, marking a major breakthrough for China's high-end rail transit equipment to go global.

The high-speed electric multiple units (EMUs) concerned in the deal include 20 train cars divided into five sets with a speed reaching 200 km per hour, which is scheduled for operation in 2025.

Wang Chengtao, with the research center under CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, said that these high-speed trains are built on a proven and adaptable technological platform that aligns with European standards and Hungary-Serbia railway project needs, promising enhanced passenger experience with intelligence, eco-friendliness, and comfort. The deal marks that Chinese EMUs with a speed reaching 200 km per hour will be exported to Europe for the first time.

The Hungary-Serbia railway project is a landmark project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)jointly built by China and Central and Eastern European countries, with a total length of 341.7 kilometers, including 183.1 kilometers in Serbia and 158.6 kilometers in Hungary, which is expected to significantly cut travel time between Belgrade and Budapest from the current eight hours to three hours upon the railway's operational launch.

According to Ma Chunsheng, deputy general manager of the overseas division of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, since the construction of the Hungary-Serbia railway kicked off in 2019, the company has conducted business activities and cultural exchanges in the Serbian market, which has effectively contributed to the deal. Adhering to the motto of "Connect the World through Better Mobility", China's high-end rail transit equipment manufacturing enterprises represented by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, will provide comfortable, fast and efficient services for the passengers of Hungary and Serbia, boost bilateral economic and trade exchanges, drive economic development along the line, and continue to accelerate the BRI construction.