Lushun economic zone proves vital for African rail

A train developed by CRRC Dalian Co pictured on the Abuja-Kaduna Rail Line in Nigeria, Africa, on Jan 4, 2018. [Photo/crrcgc.cc]

In recent years, Lushun Economic and Technological Development Zone in Dalian, Liaoning province has been promoting its rail industry in emerging markets.

In July 2018, a type of train developed by companies in the zone was exported to Nigeria. The trains were purchased to serve a new light rail system in the country’s capital, Abuja –– the first of its kind in West Africa.

The trains are a product of the “Lushun base”, a project launched by CRRC Dalian Co in 2009 and which covers an area of 1.96 square kilometers, with investment of 8 billion yuan ($1.17 billion).

QRRS Dalian Rolling Stock Co based in Lushun has so far exported about 3,000 trains to African countries, including Kenya and Mozambique.

Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these projects and companies are subsidized by the Lushun government. 

In addition, CNR Dalian Locomotive Research Institute, CRRC Dalian R&D Co and Dalian R&D Center for CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock have also provided supporting technologies and services for the development of the rail industry.

Lushun is expected to export more trains to Africa, with closer ties developed during the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, which took place on Sept 3 and 4.

A CRH train developed by CRRC Dalian Co [Photo/crrcgc.cc]

An aerial view of Lushun Economic and Development Zone in Dalian, Liaoning province [Photo/dllsk.gov.cn]