The first batch of 18 Chinese-made metro trains were delivered to Portugal on February 11, marking the first-ever delivery of Chinese-made metro trains to an EU country, the equipment manufacturer, CRRC Tangshan, announced on February 12.
According to a statement quoting Duarte Cordeiro, Portugal’s Minister of Environment and Climate Action, the new trains meet public expectations in terms of comfort, safety and comfort, and will improve the travel experience of local residents. Moreover, he said in an interview with Xinhua after visiting the train cabin and trying out the seats, “This is an example of a train suitable for Porto Metro classification between passengers and staff.”
The train made by CRRC Tangshan and delivered to the Porto metro makes Portugal the first country in the European Union to purchase metro trains made in China.
For his part, Zhao Bintang, Chinese Ambassador to Portugal, said, quoting the press release issued by the Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, that the train delivery demonstrates the strategic partnership between China and Portugal and the potential for high-level bilateral cooperation.
According to Xinhua, the first train will enter service in May, and all trains will be delivered by the end of September after trials and tests.
Adopting digital technology will also reduce vehicle production costs, while making them smarter, more environmentally friendly and more comfortable, said Tan Mu, general manager of CRRC Tangshan, in the statement.
The statement also noted that these new-generation subway trains, jointly designed by CRRC Tangshan and Porto Metro, have the characteristics of lightness, low energy consumption and more digital intelligence, in line with European standards. Finally, Xinhua News Agency reported that the trains reach a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour and have a carrying capacity of 244 passengers, 64 of whom are seated. Porto’s metro network will have 120 cars, including these new cars.
The first batch of subway trains produced in China were shipped to Portugal via Tianjin Port in north China in October 2022.
