China exports bullet trains to Argentina

BEIJING - China has finished building and shipped its first bullet train to Argentina, China North Railway (CNR) announced on Wednesday.

The contracted diesel multiple-units (DMU) shipped to Argentina mark China's biggest DMU order in South America, CNR said.

The CNR's subsidiary in Tianjin Municipality won the bid for Argentina's Belgrano Sur railway contract in November, 2013, involving 21 lines with 81 DMUs.

Painted in blue and white like Argentina's national flag, the shipped DMU's highest speed can reach 100 kilometers per hour, faster than the same type of DMU made in other countries.

The trains applied special paint and rubber to resist strong ultraviolet light and corrosion in accordance with Argentina's climate and local operation, said the company.

Meanwhile, the DMU also has special areas for wheelchair and bicycle access.

Controlling China's entire high-speed rail market, CNR and its counterpart China South Railway announced a merger on Dec 30, 2014.