Hong Kong's MTR buys first China-made locomotives

Following fierce competition, the first independently developed diesel locomotives made on the Chinese mainland have been selected by Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway Corp for use in its world-class transit system.

China CNR Co announced last week that it has secured an order worth more than 160 million yuan ($25.7 million) from the MTR for 23 diesel locomotives made with its proprietary technologies.

The designer and builder of the locomotives is a wholly owned CNR subsidiary headquartered in Dalian, Liaoning province.

According to an announcement from the State-owned railway equipment manufacturer, its CKD0A locomotives ordered by the MTR meet the strictest global emission standards and reduce operational noise to less than 70 decibels, lower than the 78-decibel standard on the Chinese mainland.

The MTR is considered one of the most successful railway operators in the world with a comprehensive and highly sophisticated network. It is also famous for caution in selecting suppliers, said the CNR statement.

The announcement also noted that the MTR procurement announcement attracted many well-known locomotive manufacturers, and bidding for the contract was fierce.

A CNR spokesman said the order shows its CKD0A locomotive has won the recognition it deserves and is also useful as a stepping stone to competing in top international railway markets.

The manufacturer says the CKD0A meets advanced international standards in fabrication, design, quality control and performance tests.

It can run at 80 kilometers an hour powered by two electric motors and a diesel engine. The design also provides more interior room by eliminating the need for a gearbox, which also improves the locomotive's reliability.

The driver's cab has two sets of controllers equipped with computer and cruise control systems.

The CKD0A locomotive is expected to be used in MTR's rolling stock in addition to subway vehicle rescue.

The contract calls for the first locomotive to be delivered to MTR by March 2014, followed by a 5,000-kilometer test run.

The MTR has also ordered high-speed trains valued at 1.36 billion yuan from China South Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co Ltd, National Business Daily reported.

The report said CSR's CRH380A model will be customized to meet MTR requirements and serve on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong express rail link expected to enter service in 2015.