China’s major metro train provider has showcased its cars and passenger safety technologies to Tashkent Metro officials. Until recently, the capital’s metro system relied exclusively on Russian-made products to upgrade its fleet.
A delegation from the Tashkent metro operator, Toshkent Metropoliteni, led by its chief engineer, visited CRRC facilities in Dalian, China, earlier this week.
A tight-lipped press release from the metro operator said the visitors “were given a tour of a production line for metro trains, carriages and platform screen doors”.
CRRC and the Uzbek counterparts discussed “the future introduction of these modern technologies in the Tashkent Metro and the delivery of more convenient, safe and reliable service to passengers.”
The sides have signed an MoU, but the visit does not confirm a purchase agreement. However, the move suggests CRRC Dalian could become one of the companies considered for future Tashkent Metro fleet upgrades.
What is known of CRRC Dalian
CRRC Dalian is a subsidiary of CRRC Corporation Limited, one of the world’s largest rail equipment producers alongside Germany’s Siemens and France’s Alstom.
The company manufactures locomotives, passenger trains, metro cars and other urban transport systems. CRRC has supplied rail vehicles to markets across Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. Earlier in July, the company shipped three-car trains for the Shanghai Metro’s Chongming Line.
In Central Asia, its other subsidiary, CRRC Tangshan, delivered 18 driverless Triton trains to Astana. The Tritons have been servicing the city’s light rail system (LRT) since May this year, each capable of carrying almost 700 passengers.
Tashkent Metro expansion
The Tashkent Metro has expanded significantly over the recent years after operating for decades on a Soviet-built network.
The system now includes four lines: the underground Chilonzor, O‘zbekiston, and Yunusobod routes, as well as the elevated and underground Circle Line, which was launched in stages from 2020 onwards. The latter line runs on the Moskva-series cars built by Russian rolling stock manufacturer Transmashholding.
Tashkent Metro took delivery of three such trains back in June, with 11 more to come later this year.
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