CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co is looking for high speed train orders in Denmark, in a move that would be an important step forward for the company within the EU market.

CRRC executives were recently in Copenhagen, and visited the Ministry of Transportation.

The rail network in Denmark is badly in need of an upgrade. The Danish government has ambitious plans, and created a train fund in 2013 for electrification of more lines, and for more high speed train services to be operated by Danske Statsbaner(DSB, Danish State Railways). This includes better interconnectivity with neighbouring countries, including faster links to Hamburg from which there is a freight service into Eurasia and China.

Several months ago CRRC established a new European subsidiary, CRRC ZELC Verkehrstechnik, which opened a new office in Vienna in late September as the HQ for its European expansion plans. It has also signed a co-operation agreement with the Technical University of Graz, a leading centre for rail technology research.

CRRC has already signed an agreement with Czech rail operator Leo Express to supply three EMUs, with options for 27 more. Like many continental European countries, the Czech Republic has a dominant rail company (often state owned), but open access provisions on the network allow some smaller private rail companies to operate services. These smaller private operators present a business opportunity for equipment suppliers.

The first delivery to Leo is expected in mid-2018. Leo Express runs from Prague to Ostrava, which has now been extended cross border to cities in Slovakia. Services to Poland could follow.  

Previously in 2015 CRRC signed up to supply Electrical Multiple Units (EMUs) and Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) to Macedonian Railways. These have the diesel engine or electric power units incorporated into the train, rather than needing a separate locomotive.