Dieser lang erwartete Auftrag zur Modernisierung der China-Schienenwege ist ein wichtiger Meilenstein auf dem Weg zum großen China-TGV-Deal. Der Auftrag geht an Kawasaki, Alstom und Bombardier. Siemens ist nicht mit dabei. Dies erhöht die Chancen Alstoms, beim TGV zum Zug (wortwörtlich) zu kommen. Im Artikel unten heißt es, dass China seine Eisenbahn-Aktivitäten bereits Anfang nächsten Jahres an die Börse bringen will. Das bringt (auch ausländisches) Geld zur Finanzierung des Schnellbahnprojekts Peking-Schanghai. Schienenverkehr ist in China das Haupttransportmittel.
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Kawasaki Heavy, Alstom, Bombardier Win China Rail Contracts
Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., France's Alstom SA and Bombardier Inc. of Canada won contracts to help upgrade China's railway network, the Chinese government's Xinhua news agency reported.
The contracts are aimed at modernizing a rail network running at full capacity and meeting only 35 percent of cargo demand in one of the world's fastest-growing economies.
China's Ministry of Railways plans to upgrade five rail lines totaling more than 2,000 kilometers of track to increase speeds to 200 kilometers (124 miles) an hour. The project is valued at an estimated 100 billion yen ($914 million), according to a report on Kyodo newswire.
"China's railway construction has lagged far behind economic growth because the government lacked funds and technology to boost capacity and build new lines," said Joe Zhang, head of China research at UBS Securities Asia Ltd. in Hong Kong. "The introduction of global train makers may help China speed up the pace to fill the gap."
Ministry officials were unavailable for comment today, as were executives from Kawasaki Heavy.
The contracts may be a boon to the three overseas companies, who need to improve earnings after poor results this year. Kawasaki Heavy, Japan's second-largest heavy machinery maker, reported a 1.7 billion yen loss in the three months ended June 30. Alstom, the Paris-based maker of trains and power stations, had to be rescued from bankruptcy by the French government this year. The government now owns about a fifth of the company.
Montreal-based Bombardier, the world's third largest manufacturer of commercial airplanes, reported a two-thirds decline in profit in the three months ended July 31, on lower deliveries and higher costs. Its aircraft unit reported a loss for the period.
Rail is the most popular form of transportation in China for cargo and passengers. The government in Beijing is trying to improve transport links as economic expansion of more than 9 percent causes bottlenecks at ports, roads and rail lines.
The government may sell shares in some railway operations as early as next year to raise funds for expansion, the ministry said on Thursday.
The group led by Kobe, Japan-based Kawasaki Heavy includes Chinese train maker Nanche Sifang Locomotive Co., Xinhua said. Alstom's Chinese partner is Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., while Bombardier has teamed up with Bombardier Sifang Power Transportation Ltd. in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao, the report said.
The five lines include the rail link between Beijing and the northeastern industrial city of Shenyang.
China is also reviewing proposals to build a 1,300-kilometer link between Beijing and Shanghai to cut travel time to between three and five hours from the current 13-hour ride. Japanese companies are competing with German and French companies for the project.
(Xinhua online, 8-29)
www.xinhuanet.com for Xinhua's Web site
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Kawasaki Heavy, Alstom, Bombardier Win China Rail Contracts
Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., France's Alstom SA and Bombardier Inc. of Canada won contracts to help upgrade China's railway network, the Chinese government's Xinhua news agency reported.
The contracts are aimed at modernizing a rail network running at full capacity and meeting only 35 percent of cargo demand in one of the world's fastest-growing economies.
China's Ministry of Railways plans to upgrade five rail lines totaling more than 2,000 kilometers of track to increase speeds to 200 kilometers (124 miles) an hour. The project is valued at an estimated 100 billion yen ($914 million), according to a report on Kyodo newswire.
"China's railway construction has lagged far behind economic growth because the government lacked funds and technology to boost capacity and build new lines," said Joe Zhang, head of China research at UBS Securities Asia Ltd. in Hong Kong. "The introduction of global train makers may help China speed up the pace to fill the gap."
Ministry officials were unavailable for comment today, as were executives from Kawasaki Heavy.
The contracts may be a boon to the three overseas companies, who need to improve earnings after poor results this year. Kawasaki Heavy, Japan's second-largest heavy machinery maker, reported a 1.7 billion yen loss in the three months ended June 30. Alstom, the Paris-based maker of trains and power stations, had to be rescued from bankruptcy by the French government this year. The government now owns about a fifth of the company.
Montreal-based Bombardier, the world's third largest manufacturer of commercial airplanes, reported a two-thirds decline in profit in the three months ended July 31, on lower deliveries and higher costs. Its aircraft unit reported a loss for the period.
Rail is the most popular form of transportation in China for cargo and passengers. The government in Beijing is trying to improve transport links as economic expansion of more than 9 percent causes bottlenecks at ports, roads and rail lines.
The government may sell shares in some railway operations as early as next year to raise funds for expansion, the ministry said on Thursday.
The group led by Kobe, Japan-based Kawasaki Heavy includes Chinese train maker Nanche Sifang Locomotive Co., Xinhua said. Alstom's Chinese partner is Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., while Bombardier has teamed up with Bombardier Sifang Power Transportation Ltd. in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao, the report said.
The five lines include the rail link between Beijing and the northeastern industrial city of Shenyang.
China is also reviewing proposals to build a 1,300-kilometer link between Beijing and Shanghai to cut travel time to between three and five hours from the current 13-hour ride. Japanese companies are competing with German and French companies for the project.
(Xinhua online, 8-29)
www.xinhuanet.com for Xinhua's Web site