ON NOVEMBER 23 Bombardier confirmed that Shenzhen Metro Co had ordered 19 six-car trainsets from its CARC joint venture with Changchun Car Co of China. The trains are destined to operate the first phase of the metro network now under construction in the Shenzhen economic development zone between Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

Phase 1 comprises two lines totalling 19·5 km and 18 stations, and will mostly run underground. Line 1 will run east-west from the Kowloon-Canton Railway border station at Lo Wu to the Hui Zhan Zhong Xin exhibition centre. Line 4 will run south from Wen Hua Zhong Xin cultural centre to the border at Huang Gang, where an interchange is planned to the new KCR terminal at Lok Ma Chau. The two lines will connect at Jintian in the city centre.

Total value of the car order is €158m, of which Bombardier’s share is put at €100m. The first train will be built at Hennigsdorf, near Berlin, and the rest in Changchun. Traction equipment will be supplied from Västerås. Delivery is due to start in early 2004, ready for the start of revenue service at the end of that year. Final car deliveries are expected in the second half of 2005.

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