CHINA: The Ministry of Railways has ordered an additional 40 CRH1 Zefiro high speed trains from the Bombardier Sifang (Qingdao) Transportation joint venture at a cost of 5·2bn yuan, Bombardier announced on July 16.

The eight-car trains will have a top speed of 250 km/h and capacity for 604 passengers, with a 'VIP car' incorporating 1st class seats. Deliveries will begin in September this year and run to May 2011. The order is worth 2·5bn yuan for Bombardier, and means 1 280 CRH1 cars have now been ordered.