First made-in-China subway train reaches Brazil for 2016 Olympics

The first subway train produced for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil rolls off the production line in Changchun, Jilin province on Monday, September 29, 2014. Produced by the CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd., the train can travel at up to 100 kilometers per hour. [File photo: China News Service]

(ECNS) -- The first subway train produced in China for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil has arrived in Rio de Janeiro, three months after shipment, Beijing News reported on Monday.

Built by Changchun Railway Vehicles under China CNR Corporation, the train is expected to be put into operation by the end of March or beginning of April.

It is designed to be rust-proof, given the humidity in Rio, while the windows and doors are made from blast-proof materials.

The train is also equipped with air conditioning that allows the interior to remain at a constant 20-23°C even when temperatures outside are as high as 50°C, said designer Duan Hongliang.

The company has signed contracts to produce 204 subway trains and 400 motor train units, comprising 82% of Rio de Janeiro's urban rail transit.

The subway trains will operate on Line Four, between the Olympic village and the Copacabana game center, at speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour and a maximum passenger capacity of 2240.

This will be the first time that Chinese railway transportation development serves the Olympic Games overseas.