IRAN: Tehran Urban & Suburban Railway Co signed a €360m contract with China Northern for 455 metro cars and 160 double-deck coaches on March 26. CNR has delivered 1 408 coaches and 432 metro cars to customers outside China since 2001, and described the latest contract as its largest-ever export order.

The cars will be built by Changchun Railway Vehicle Co, which supplied TUSRC's existing fleet. The metro cars will be formed into 65 trainsets for lines 1 and 2, and will be of three types including steel and aluminium-bodied vehicles.

The 160 additional double-deck ?coaches will be hauled by 25 kV electric locos on suburban Line 5, and are to incorporate revised communication and braking systems.