China-Made Subway Cars to be Used in GuangzhouChangchun-based Anda Railcars Co. Ltd., a Sino-German joint venture, won a bid Thursday to produce subway cars to be used on the No. 2 subway line in Guangzhou.The company signed the contract today, which is worth 1.54 billion yuan, the largest project in the construction of Guangzhou's subway. It also indicates that China is able to produce its own subway cars. Construction of the 18-kilometer-long No.2 subway line in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, is in full swing. The first section is expected to be completed by 2002 and begins its trial operation in early 2003. The subway was constructed with a provision from the State Development Planning Commission that 70 percent of the subway equipment should be made in China. Construction of the 18.48-kilometer-long No.1 subway in Guangzhou cost 12.72 billion yuan because all the equipment was imported from Germany. A local subway official estimated the cost to build the No.2 subway will be reduced by a big margin because more China-made equipment will be used. According to the contract, Anda Railcars Co. will provide 26 trains with 156 carriages, which will run at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour. The first cars will be delivered in September 2002. |
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