From 17 to 18 October, marking the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was held in Beijing. On 17 October, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of CRRC, and the Serbian Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure formally signed a commercial contract for the procurement of high-speed EMU trains for Serbia. This represents a major breakthrough in the international expansion of China’s high-end rail transit equipment. 

CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd. signing the commercial contract for the procurement of high-speed EMU trains for Serbia

       The trains covered by the contract are distributed-power electric multiple units, comprising 20 cars (5 train sets) of high-speed EMUs. The vehicles are configured as four-car sets (two powered and two trailer cars), with a maximum operating speed of 200 km/h, and are scheduled to enter service in 2025.

       Wang Chengtao, Deputy Director of the National Engineering Research Centre for Rail Passenger Cars at CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd., explained that the high-speed EMUs covered by the contract are based on a mature, safe and reliable technology platform. They are electric multiple units tailored to the Hungary–Serbia railway in accordance with the European Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) and European technical standards, as well as the specific requirements of that line, and they are more intelligent, greener and more comfortable. Built to European industry standards, these are also the first Chinese high-speed EMUs with a speed of over 200 km/h to be exported to Europe.

       The Hungary–Serbia railway is a flagship Belt and Road project between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The line has a total length of 341.7 km, of which 183.1 km lie in Serbia and 158.6 km in Hungary. Once the project enters service, travel time between the two capitals will be cut from eight hours to three.

       According to Ma Chunsheng, Deputy General Manager of the Overseas Business Division of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd., the project is a model of the continued deepening of cooperation between China and Serbia under the Belt and Road Initiative. Since construction of the Hungary–Serbia railway began in 2019, CRRC Changchun has actively engaged with the Serbian market and pursued ongoing exchanges in science, technology and culture with local partners, effectively paving the way for cooperation between China and Serbia in the field of high-speed EMUs. Guided by the mission of “connecting the world for the benefit of humanity”, Chinese manufacturers of high-end rail transit equipment, represented by CRRC Changchun, will provide the people of Hungary and Serbia with comfortable, fast and efficient passenger transport services, boosting bilateral trade, driving economic development along the route and continuing to accelerate the building of the Belt and Road.

       As a partner of CRRC Changchun, MB Connectivity will supply products for this project including EN 50306 and EN 50264 European standard cables and data cables, supporting the high-speed EMU project for the Hungary–Serbia railway.

       On the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, and as we embark on this new stage of building the Belt and Road together, MB Connectivity invites you to share in the opportunities, create the future together and head towards the next golden decade hand in hand!