High speed trainsets have begun trial services between Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Shenzen and Guangzhou, marking the latest step in Chinese Railways’ passenger service upgrade. The first services operated on the line to Hangzhou on January 28 using sets derived from the E2-1000 Shinkansen used by JR East (RG 8.05 p485). Some 60 eight-car trainsets capable of 250 km/h are being built by a consortium of Japanese companies led by Kawasaki working with the Nache Sifang subsidiary of the China Southern Locomotive & Rolling Stock Industry Co. The C2008 trainsets from Bombardier-Sifang Power were scheduled to make their debut on services from Shanghai over the lunar new year festive period. The 200 km/h EMUs are a derivative of the Regina units used on regional services in Sweden. Chinese Railways has also ordered 60 200 km/h CA250 units from an Alstom-Changchun partnership, the first of which was recently dispatched from Italy to China (RG 2.07 p56). However, until Chinese Railways accelerates passenger services on April 18, all these trains will be restricted to 160 km/h. In total, 140 units are being supplied to operate the accelerated inter-city services.

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