China's first set of double-decker EMU trains for exports were delivered from its maker – the CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd. (ZELC) on July 26, 2021. The trains will be shipped through Shanghai towards Germany. They will be used on railway lines in five European countries including Austria, Germany, and Hungary since 2023, to satisfy the demands of railway interconnectivity in Europe.

The double-deck EMUs, independently developed by the Chinese company, meet the EU’s technical specification for interoperability. They can run at a top speed of 200 km per hour. Equipped with six carriages and 571 seats, the EMU can carry 1,280 passengers. The capacity of the train is 30% - 35% higher than that of a flat-layer train. It has such characteristics as large passenger capacity; flexible marshalling; safety; reliability; intelligence; and, comfort. 

Since the signing of the contract in December 2019, CRRC ZELC has organized a special team to serve the project. The new train production was completed in just 18 months in spite of the impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic. The project length has been shortened by half compared to similar international products.

The train passed technical tests after rolling off the production line on May 31. Upon arrival in Europe, it will go through a series of procedures concerning network access, signal system, TSI test, and certificate authority. 

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: voice of hunan