China Exports of HSR, Trains, Metro, Tram, Rolling Stocks, etc: News

[Jlaw]

China to get rolling on stalled Indonesian high-speed rail line

Chinese bank expected to release funds for project after delays in government clearances and local resistance to the route

By Liu Zhen, Kristin Huang - SCMP
PUBLISHED : Saturday, 25 March, 2017, 7:02am
UPDATED : Saturday, 25 March, 2017, 7:02am

China is expected to get moving “soon” on construction of Indonesia’s beleaguered high-speed rail project, a landmark venture for both countries.

China Development Bank could disburse pre-agreed loans for the 142km Jakarta-Bandung rail line as early as the end of this month, according to sources.

The project has been stalled for over a year amid delays in government clearances and local resistance to the route, but if it does go ahead, it will be a milestone in Beijing’s ambitions to export its high-speed rail technology around the world.

“The project is now moving forward positively,” Soegeng Rahardjo, Indonesia’s ambassador to Beijing, said on Tuesday (March 21).

Back on track: China’s high-speed railway project in Indonesia to resume soon as permit granted

Indonesian State-owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno also said on Tuesday the CDB funding would be in place as soon as the plan for the route was signed by Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

The route plan had already been given approval by the ministers involved and submitted to the Cabinet Secretariat.

“[The CDB] are still waiting for the ... plan, and if that’s done then there is no problem,” she said.

CDB has committed to cover around 75 per cent of the project’s US$5.2 billion cost, but reportedly under the condition that all of the land be acquired before disbursing the loans. Rini said CDB was not withholding funds for the land. “So far they have already put in Rp 500 billion (HK$291 million),” she said.

Zhang Mingliang, a Southeast Asian affairs analyst at Jinan University, said it would be a big step forward to have the funding in place but there could be more obstacles on the way to the 2018 completion deadline and the 2019 target to have the line running.

China is keen to export its high-speed rail technology and has made it a key element of its “One Belt, One Road” initiative to revive trade from Asia to Europe.

It’s made its biggest progress on the Indonesian project to connect Halim in East Jakarta to Tegalluar in Bandung, West Java, fending off Japan in 2015 to win the bid to build and operate the line. If realised, it would be the first time another country has fully adopted Chinese high-speed rail standards, from train carriages to operating systems.

Xu Liping, a specialist in Southeast Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said countries in the region had less experience of and trust in the Chinese technology compared to that from the West and Japan.

To secure the deal, China offered the Indonesian government breaks on financing. Under the agreement, China Railway International will be in charge of 70 per cent of the construction work, while Indonesian state companies will handle the rest of the line.

Ground was broken on the line in January last year but the project was halted soon after it started due to objections from provincial representatives on the route.

Why does Indonesia cling to its plagued Chinese infrastructure projects?

Progress has been held back since then as the developer Kereta Cepat Indonesia China has sought acquire land and clearance from disparate government departments.

KCIC is a joint venture between China Railway International and an Indonesian consortium of four state-owned firms, with the Chinese holding 40 per cent of the shares.

“China was too hasty to set up a model project in Southeast Asia and for ‘One Belt One Road’ ... and underestimated its difficulties,” Zhang said. “Even after the start of the actual construction work, political, economic, environmental, religious and labour issues could all well stumble this project in the future.”

Additional reporting by Kristin Huang

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/dipl...et-rolling-stalled-indonesian-high-speed-rail

Scrap this unprofitable project. Indos don't want you there. Just move on. Can't reason with religious nuts. At least the west can be reasoned with.

 

[TaiShang]

"The 142-km-long railway project is the first of such in Indonesia as well as the first in the whole region of Southeast Asia."

I just realized that this high-speed railway is the first in the entire Southeast Asia... therefore in this sense Indonesia is leading ahead of its neighbors.

Now Indonesia has solid proof to argue about leading ASEAN in development work. First doing, then talking is the best way.

 

[samsara]

Scrap this unprofitable project. Indos don't want you there. Just move on. Can't reason with religious nuts. At least the west can be reasoned with.

The President Joko Widodo from Indonesia is an open minded leader, he's welcoming all win-win economic projects, incl. this HSR one. Compared to his immediate predecessor, he's much more willing to engage China in Indonesian economic development, with obvious progresses esp. in infrastructure development.

However one must understand that domestically President Joko Widodo administration is entrenched by many opposing forces from several political parties, in particular in the House of Representatives. This is a republic heavily inflicted with many crappy political fragmentation inside.

Moreover the Japan and its lobbying forces in Indonesia are overwhelming dominant, it's inevitable that China's efforts to invest there will undergo harsh opposition. Only perseverance, hard works and good qualities by the Chinese may dent the Japanese stronghold in this country!

 

[Jlaw]

The President Joko Widodo from Indonesia is an open minded leader, he's welcoming all win-win economic projects, incl. this HSR one. Compared to his immediate predecessor, he's much more willing to engage China in Indonesian economic development, with obvious progresses esp. in infrastructure development.

However one must understand that domestically President Joko Widodo administration is entrenched by many opposing forces from several political parties, in particular in the House of Representatives. This is a republic heavily inflicted with many crappy political fragmentation inside.

Moreover the Japan and its lobbying forces in Indonesia are overwhelming dominant, it's inevitable that China's efforts to invest there will undergo harsh opposition. Only perseverance, hard works and good qualities by the Chinese may dent the Japanese stronghold in this country!

That's just the way that country is. Doubt Japan has that much influence. Should that be the case they would have chosen Japan for HSR.

 

[ahojunk]

If US wants value for money, no choice but to cooperate with China.
The others are more expensive.

========
Chinese train maker expands US market
By Gao Shi (People's Daily) 10:10, April 06, 2017

Guests break ground for CRRC’s Chicago plant. (Photo by Gao Shi from People’s Daily)

A mockup of the Orange Line car made by Chinese train maker CRRC Corporation made a debut to its future passengers on Monday at City Hall Plaza in Boston. It is the latest victory of the rail car builder to expand the US market.

Since the China-based rail car builder accessed to the US market in 2014, CCRC has grabbed 1,359 subway car and commuter train car orders in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. The past half year witnessed 184 subway car orders in Boston and Los Angeles, as well as 45 commuter train car deals in Philadelphia.

CCRC President Liu Hualong said that the company not only expands the US market, but also boosts China-US cooperation in rail transit.

The manufacturer is building a plant in Springfield of Massachusetts, once the US’ manufacturing base. The city is also where China’s earliest overseas students like Rong Hong and Tien Yow Jeme started their dreams and careers.

When the Springfield plant broke ground on September 3, 2015, an old US man named Mike hang a banner writing “Welcome CRRC” on the wall of his bar to express a greeting to the Chinese maker.

The plant also retained the century-year-old buildings to show a respect to local culture and tradition. The decision was applauded by local residents.

The old industrial cluster located in southeast Chicago recorded the glorious days of the city’s manufacturing industry, but at the same time witnessed the far-flung decline of the country’s “Rust Belt”.

But after Qingdao-based CRRC Sifang Co Ltd came to the land, the railway locomotive manufacturing industry of the city revitalized after 36 years of silence. A ground-breaking ceremony of the maker’s plant was held in the city on March 16.

Rahm Emanuel, mayor of Chicago, held up his thumb for the manufacturer at the ceremony, saying that CCRC can not only serve the city, but provide made-in-Chicago products to more US cities by stretching to the western and central part, and even the whole US market.

“We thank CCRC for bringing the rail car manufacturing projects to Chicago,” he added.

While attending the ceremony with retired brother, Sean Williams said that they have been proud for the subway facilities in Chicago, and will be proud if rail cars assembled in the city could run on rail lines around the world in the near future. His family has been committed to railway locomotive for three generations.

As a hub of dimensional transport, Chicago drives the economic growth of the Greater Chicago region, US Senator Richard J. Durbin told the People’s Daily, adding that the city, a manufacturing base of rail cars 50 years ago, now renews its glory thanks to CCRC.

In order to better serve the US market, CCRC decided to set up research and manufacturing centers for rail transit in the US. Its staff were hired and trained in the US as well.

Rahm Emanuel, mayor of Chicago, delivers a speech at the ground-breaking ceremony of CRRC’s Chicago plant. (Photo by Gao Shi from People’s Daily)

The 418 subway cars to be delivered to Boston will be produced in the Springfield plant that is expected to be completed in 2017. The Chicago facility, upon completion, will build at least 168 subway trains each year. It means the China-made locomotives will be endowed with US descent.

Liu Chengyong, general manager of CRRC Sifang’s American branch, commented that it will rejuvenate the 125-year-old subway system of Chicago, and fuel a common prosperity of the upstream and downstream of the rail transit industry.

Located in 41.8° N, Chicago often flirts with cold weather. To ensure the safety of passengers in such a unique environment, the Chinese maker applies the technologies of the Lanzhou-Xinjiang high-speed railway who is also always threatened by cold fronts.

The company, in Los Angeles, also introduced products made by transportation and equipment accessory manufacturers based in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and other Chinese cities. It, as a result, gave a boost to China’s total export of rail products covering the whole industrial chain.

These companies, by providing automotive, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting equipment to the US rail manufacturing industry, also created more job positions for local community, and as a result broadened the prospects of Chinese firms in the US market.

.

 

[Tshering22]

China's art of war is the most strategic than any major power ever did.

They conquer through economics rather than relying on brute military policing and force. Tremendously well planned and very, very impressive.

If anything, China has managed to secure the customer confidence. Absolutely praiseworthy.

 

[ahojunk]

China's art of war is the most strategic than any major power ever did.

They conquer through economics rather than relying on brute military policing and force. Tremendously well planned and very, very impressive.

If anything, China has managed to secure the customer confidence. Absolutely praiseworthy.

Nah, not what you think.

It's simple.

Just upskill and produce a better product at such a good price that the customer cannot refuse.

Many countries can produce a good and decent product, but can they do it at China cost and China speed?

 

[Tshering22]

Nah, not what you think.

It's simple.

Just upskill and produce a better product at such a good price that the customer cannot refuse.

Many countries can produce a good and decent product, but can they do it at China cost and China speed?

That's the immediate gain.

What I am talking about is the long term gain.

Economic domination is far superior to military domination. The former brings in money while it makes the enemy submit, while the latter only makes the enemy even more belligerent and is a cost to the country.

 

[JSCh]

Construction of China-Laos railway speeding up before rainy season
Source: Xinhua | 2017-04-09 11:34:47 | Editor: huaxia

Photo taken on April 5, 2017 shows Chinese workers constructing the China-Laos railway's Muang Phonhong station in Laos. (Xinhua/Liu Ailun)

By Zhang Jianhua

MUANG PHONHONG, Laos, April 9 (Xinhua) -- "This is my office, and also my bedroom," Project Manager Cai Li told Xinhua reporter while pointing at a small tent amid the roar of generator.

Located at the construction site of China-Laos railway in Muang Phonhong district in Lao central Vientiane Province, Cai's so-called "office and bedroom" is made from simple bamboo shelves covered by large plastic sheets. There is no working table in her "office" but only a bed, while office equipments and materials were placed on the floor.

"We have only electric fan to cool down the heat. I slept only three or four hours a day these days. So fortunately the chef came the day before so we are now able to have good meals," the 50-year-old manager talked about her living conditions at the site. Cai has just arrived at the site of China-Laos railway in Muang Phonhong for one week.

"There is no other way because we have to rush to take advantages of dry season in Laos for construction," she said. Chinese companies are speeding up the construction of China-Laos railway after entering its first dry season since the railway construction was officially started on Dec. 25, 2016.

It is now dry season in Laos, the main construction period in tropical monsoon climate zone. Specifically for China-Laos railway construction, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for construction before the rainy season. For example, the tunnel must be excavated to a certain depth before the rainy season otherwise high rainfall might cause landslides.

China-Laos railway is a major strategic project which was reached and promoted by top leaders of the two countries. Speaking at the construction inaugural ceremony of China-Laos railway in late 2016, General Manager of China Railway International Co., Ltd and Chairman of Laos-China Railway Company Huang Difu said the China Railway Corporation will take the best of its advantages on railway management, technology and resources to lead other enterprises on survey and design, construction and equipment manufacturing among others, as well as cooperate with Lao government and relevant enterprises in order to construct and operate China-Laos railway in a good manner.

Photo taken on April 5, 2017 shows a Chinese cook preparing lunch at a temporary camp at the construction site of China-Laos railway's Muang Phonhong station, Laos. (Xinhua/Zhang Jianhua)


Huang pledged to resolutely implement the consensus reached by the two governments on railway construction and operation. On the basis of initial results, the company will continue strengthen communication and collaboration with Lao government at all levels, support each other, follow the plan and requirements so as to ensure high standards of quality and schedule, contributing to promoting socio-economic development of the two countries and prosperity of the two peoples.

China Railway No. 2 Group Co., Ltd is responsible for the construction of Muang Phonhong section. He Hongsong, head of construction commanding department of China Railway No. 2 Group Co., Ltd told Xinhua that the department held a meeting in early April to launch a campaign of "a 100-day of dry season working competition" to ensure the goal of full construction commence in June.

"We need to rush into the site and set up a safe, high quality working manner within 100 days in order to show the construction level of China railway agencies who dare to battle tough working conditions," Huang Ningshu, Party Secretary of the construction commanding department, said.

At the same time, the Lao side is also actively promoting the progress of China-Laos railway construction. At the end of March, the import of materials and equipments for railway construction embraced difficulties in Lao customs clearance. Right in early April, Lao government established a working group to approve the tax-free import of materials and equipments as well as set up a special lane for imports of materials and equipments for China-Laos railway construction.

Sometimes, villagers living near the construction site of China-Laos railway in Muang Phonhong took their children on motorcycles to the site for visit. Keobouphon Xayani (according to pronunciation), a Muang Phonhong villager, told reporter that villagers have been actively coordinating in construction demolition, while the initial construction of the railway has brought benefits to local residents.

"It is now easier for villagers to find jobs, while sales of agricultural products are better," the village chief told reporter.

The China-Laos railway has a total length of 414.332 kilometers with over 62.7 percent of bridges and tunnels, linking Mohan-Boten border gate in northern Laos and capital Vientiane. Operating speed on the route is designed at 160 km per hour. Construction of the project is scheduled for five years with investment of some 40 billion Chinese yuan (5.8 billion U.S. dollars), 70 percent of which comes from Chinese investment and the rest 30 percent from Lao side.

China-Laos railway is the first overseas route connecting with the railway system in China, using Chinese technology, equipment and investment.

 

[AViet]

Respect to Chinese work ethic. If the project is done by a Western firm, even from a country with similar living standard to China, we will see how spoil they are. Campus with full facilities, every thing must be "American standard".

All of these extravagant spending will make the initial investment skyrocketing and instead of bringing benefit to the host country, it will make it poorer.

 

[TaiShang]

Construction of China-Laos railway speeding up before rainy season
Xinhua | Updated: 2017-04-10

MUANG PHONHONG - "This is my office, and also my bedroom," Project Manager Cai Li told Xinhua reporter while pointing at a small tent amid the roar of generator.

Located at the construction site of China-Laos railway in Muang Phonhong district in Lao central Vientiane Province, Cai's so-called "office and bedroom" is made from simple bamboo shelves covered by large plastic sheets. There is no working table in her "office" but only a bed, while office equipments and materials were placed on the floor.

"We have only electric fan to cool down the heat. I slept only three or four hours a day these days. So fortunately the chef came the day before so we are now able to have good meals," the 50-year-old manager talked about her living conditions at the site. Cai has just arrived at the site of China-Laos railway in Muang Phonhong for one week.

"There is no other way because we have to rush to take advantages of dry season in Laos for construction," she said. Chinese companies are speeding up the construction of China-Laos railway after entering its first dry season since the railway construction was officially started on Dec 25, 2016.

It is now dry season in Laos, the main construction period in tropical monsoon climate zone. Specifically for China-Laos railway construction, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for construction before the rainy season. For example, the tunnel must be excavated to a certain depth before the rainy season otherwise high rainfall might cause landslides.

China-Laos railway is a major strategic project which was reached and promoted by top leaders of the two countries. Speaking at the construction inaugural ceremony of China-Laos railway in late 2016, General Manager of China Railway International Co., Ltd and Chairman of Laos-China Railway Company Huang Difu said the China Railway Corporation will take the best of its advantages on railway management, technology and resources to lead other enterprises on survey and design, construction and equipment manufacturing among others, as well as cooperate with Lao government and relevant enterprises in order to construct and operate China-Laos railway in a good manner.

Huang pledged to resolutely implement the consensus reached by the two governments on railway construction and operation. On the basis of initial results, the company will continue strengthen communication and collaboration with Lao government at all levels, support each other, follow the plan and requirements so as to ensure high standards of quality and schedule, contributing to promoting socio-economic development of the two countries and prosperity of the two peoples.

China Railway No 2 Group Co Ltd is responsible for the construction of Muang Phonhong section. He Hongsong, head of construction commanding department of China Railway No 2 Group Co, Ltd told Xinhua that the department held a meeting in early April to launch a campaign of "a 100-day of dry season working competition" to ensure the goal of full construction commence in June.

"We need to rush into the site and set up a safe, high quality working manner within 100 days in order to show the construction level of China railway agencies who dare to battle tough working conditions," Huang Ningshu, Party secretary of the construction commanding department, said.

At the same time, the Lao side is also actively promoting the progress of China-Laos railway construction. At the end of March, the import of materials and equipments for railway construction embraced difficulties in Lao customs clearance. Right in early April, Lao government established a working group to approve the tax-free import of materials and equipments as well as set up a special lane for imports of materials and equipments for China-Laos railway construction.

Sometimes, villagers living near the construction site of China-Laos railway in Muang Phonhong took their children on motorcycles to the site for visit. Keobouphon Xayani (according to pronunciation), a Muang Phonhong villager, told reporter that villagers have been actively coordinating in construction demolition, while the initial construction of the railway has brought benefits to local residents.

"It is now easier for villagers to find jobs, while sales of agricultural products are better," the village chief told reporter.

The China-Laos railway has a total length of 414.332 kilometers with over 62.7 percent of bridges and tunnels, linking Mohan-Boten border gate in northern Laos and capital Vientiane. Operating speed on the route is designed at 160 km per hour. Construction of the project is scheduled for five years with investment of some 40 billion Chinese yuan ($5.8 billion), 70 percent of which comes from Chinese investment and the rest 30 percent from Lao side.

China-Laos railway is the first overseas route connecting with the railway system in China, using Chinese technology, equipment and investment.

 

[Place Of Space]

Mekong Area's rainy season is really annoying specially you have project in the open air.

 

[cirr]

BRIEF-CRRC's units win five overseas contracts

April 11, 2017

April 11 (Reuters) - CRRC Corp Ltd

* Says unit signs subway car sales contract worth 1.74 billion yuan ($252.23 million) with Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

* Says unit signs 1.32 billion yuan sales contract with Malaysia's transportation authority

* Says unit wins train supply contract worth about 2.5 billion yuan for high speed rail project in Indonesia

* Says unit signs subway car sales contract worth 4.5 billion yuan with Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

* Says unit signs coach supply contract worth 1.1 billion yuan with Pennsylvania's SEPTA

 

[cirr]

Chinese train maker to build 22 multiple units for Malaysian railways

(People's Daily Online) 17:00, April 12, 2017

[File photo]

China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), the world’s largest train builder, signed a $191 million contract with Malaysian authorities on March 11, promising to build 22 multiple units for the latter. The purchase marks the company’s first successful attempt to localize its manufacturing and management in Malaysia, which signifies great progress for China’s future rail exports, says a senior official.

According to CRRC’s official announcement, the company will build 13 hybrid electric multiple units and nine meter-gauge multiple units for Malaysia by the end of 2018. The design work of the units will be conducted by China's Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co., Ltd., while the trains will be manufactured in Malaysia.

“The multiple units are specially designed for Malaysia’s transportation system. The hybrid electric multiple units will be equipped with CRRC’s self-designed graphene-based supercapacitors, which can power multiple units with greater efficiency and for longer periods. The meter-gauge multiple units are designed for Malaysia’s unique meter-gauge rail tracks,” Xu Houguang, deputy director of the press office at CRRC headquarters in Beijing, told Thepaper.cn.

According to Xu, the unprecedented contract has realized the company’s strategic goal of localizing its manufacturing and management in Malaysia. CRRC already has a Southeast Asia manufacturing center in Malaysia, and Chinese companies have supplied 75 to 80 percent of the locomotives, coaches and related equipment currently in use in Malaysia, according to Xinhua.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2017/0412/c90000-9202029.html

 

[cirr]

Chinese company to build rail cars for LA Metro in U.S.

Xinhua, April 13, 2017

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) on Wednesday signed a 647 million-U.S.-dollar contract to purchase 282 rail cars from a Chinese company.

Under the contract, LA Metro will firstly pay 178 million dollars for 64 rail cars built by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) to upgrade the U.S. county's subway system.

Of the first batch of HR 4000 rail cars to be delivered by September 2021, 30 will replace the 25-year-old Red and Purple Line trains and 34 will serve the Purple Line Extension that is expected to open in 2023.

"We anticipate there will be 50,000 weekday boardings once all seven new stations are built, and there will be nearly 80,000 new daily trips on this entire Metro rail system as a result of the opening of the Purple Line Extension," LA Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington said at a signing ceremony.

"We are going to need these trains to meet our future ridership demand," he added.

A new facility will also be purchased in the LA region to manufacture major components for propulsion, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting systems.

Therefore, the contract will create about 50 jobs generating up to 38 million dollars in local wages and benefits. About 10 percent of all the new jobs will be created for disadvantaged workers and workers from lower social economic communities.

"We work with the local companies, local government and local educational institutions to create a win-win situation," CRRC President Xi Guohua told Xinhua.

"We will create job opportunities, increase tax revenue and stimulate the local economy through our partnership and collaborations," he said.

As required by LA Metro, the new trains will run up to 120 kph and can be in service for 40 years.

Compared with the existing trains, the new cars also come with improvements for passengers' experience, including active line maps, LED displays and special designs between the train sets which will allow people to move more freely from one car to another.

Washington said LA Metro, which transports about 1.3 million passengers per day, is making the county an "infrastructure capital of the world."

"CRRC is now a partner in that endeavor," he said.

http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2017-04/13/content_40616139.htm