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China to export custom-made subway trains to India

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-23 17:20

NANJING: An east China train manufacturer Tuesday dispatched 18 six-carriage subway trains to India's biggest port city, Mumbai.

The trains were China's first-ever export of A-type subway trains, which were wider than 3 meters and had greater passenger capacity than other models, said Qian Houkuan, director of information and technology at CSR Nanjing Puzhen Rolling Stock Works, the manufacturer, Tuesday.

The subway trains rolled off the production line on March 20, and would take a month to ship from Shanghai before they were to start trial operations in Mumbai in May, said Qian.

The trains, with automatic driving systems and a maximum speed of 80 km per hour, could operate at temperatures up to 55 degrees Celsius and in 100 percent humidity. Each of the 3.2-meter compartments could carry 390 people, 72 more than the 3-meter A-type trains used in China, said Qian.

The subway trains, worth $110 million were sold to Mumbai Metro One. The deal was sealed in May 2008 after being put out to tender, said Qian.

The trains were designed to meet the rigid demand of Mumbai's environment. Hot and humid with a population of 14 million, Mumbai is one of the world's most crowded cities.