Bombardier Sifang signs variation contract for high speed trains in China

Rail technology leader Bombardier Transportation announced today that its Chinese joint venture, Bombardier Sifang (Qingdao) Transportation Ltd., has been awarded a variation order by the Chinese Ministry of Railways (MOR).

After reviewing its operational strategy, the MOR decided to vary its original order of 80 very high speed trains from 2009 to include 70 eight-car BOMBARDIER ZEFIRO 380 trains, 46 ZEFIRO 250 stainless steel trains and 60 ZEFIRO 250NG trains. This variation provides MOR with increased flexibility in delivering its passenger services. The original contract value from 2009 remains unchanged.

The 70 ZEFIRO 380 trains are Bombardier’s most technologically advanced rail vehicles built to date. Designed to operate at speeds of up to 380 km/h, the trains incorporate industry-leading technical solutions in aerodynamics, propulsion and bogies. The new BOMBARDIER FLEXX Speed bogie has been developed especially for this VHS application. The trains are powered by the highly energy efficient BOMBARDIER MITRAC propulsion and control system and incorporate energy-saving BOMBARDIER ECO4 technologies that deliver the lowest energy consumption per seat of any VHS train in the world today.

The proven ZEFIRO 250 train is already operating in various parts of China. An existing fleet of 115 trains, 1,200 cars in total is currently in service.

The ZEFIRO 250NG is a newly developed product designed to meet the future demands of the Chinese rail market. An evolution of the ZEFIRO 250 train, it features numerous technological advances to ensure Bombardier’s competitiveness in this rapidly expanding market. These include a new aluminium carbody to reduce weight and ensure passenger comfort at high speeds as well as an enhanced propulsion system to guarantee performance and reliability. With optimized aerodynamics and energy efficient operation the ZEFIRO 250NG follows the same approach as the faster version ZEFIRO 380.

Anders Lindberg, President Mainline and Metros, Bombardier Transportation said: “This variation order supports the global strategic shift towards rail as the backbone of national transportation infrastructure. Our ZEFIRO family of high speed trains plays a crucial role in China’s development of a fully interconnected transport system that eases congestion and boosts the economy.”

Jianwei Zhang, President of Bombardier China, added: “China has a clear vision of the role the world’s largest high speed rail network will play in supporting sustainable transportation for the 21st century. The country is selecting the most advanced technologies to build a network that offers not only high speed but also unprecedented operating efficiency, reliability and capacity.”