CRRC Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co., Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CRRC Corporation, is set to begin shipping the first batch of Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains and electric locomotives for Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in October 2025. The shipment, comprising two EMU sets and two electric cargo locomotives, is expected to take approximately one month to reach Malaysian shores.
Speaking to a visiting Malaysian media delegation at the company’s headquarters in Dalian, vice-president Zhang Jian confirmed that the ECRL fleet would be supported by a comprehensive full life cycle service model. This will encompass product development, production, operations, maintenance and after-sales servicing.
“For the ECRL project, we aim to ensure long-term collaboration across the entire life cycle to guarantee the reliable operation of the trains on Malaysia’s railway network,” Zhang stated.
Located in the coastal city of Dalian in northeastern China’s Liaoning Province, approximately 800 kilometres southeast of Beijing, CRRC Dalian has built a strong reputation for its port facilities and advanced manufacturing capabilities.
In August 2022, CRRC Dalian entered into a supply contract with China Communications Construction (ECRL) Sdn Bhd (CCCECRL), the main contractor for the ECRL, to deliver 11 EMU train sets and 12 electric locomotives for the project.
According to Zhang, factory commissioning of the trains will be completed prior to shipment. Upon arrival in Malaysia, the first EMU will undergo an 8,000-kilometre testing phase, while subsequent units will be subject to 5,000-kilometre performance tests. The EMUs are designed for a maximum speed of 160 km/h for passenger services, while the electric locomotives, operating at 120 km/h, will cater to cargo operations.
CRRC Dalian will also deploy technical teams to Malaysia, focusing on on-site servicing and technical training. One group will be tasked with repair and maintenance activities, while another will deliver training programmes to Malaysian personnel to facilitate local capacity-building in fleet maintenance.
The company will provide a two-year warranty for all EMUs and electric locomotives supplied under the contract. The delivery of the initial fleet by the end of 2025 will ensure adequate lead time for operational readiness ahead of the ECRL’s scheduled launch in 2027.
With a legacy of manufacturing over 12,800 locomotives across more than 70 diesel and 13 electric models as of October 2020—representing half of China’s locomotive fleet—CRRC Dalian has a well-established track record in the international rail sector. Since its first overseas delivery to Myanmar in 1993, the company has supplied rail vehicles to 27 countries, including Malaysia, South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina, Uzbekistan, India, Nigeria and Hong Kong.
-Bernama
