Chile’s Transport and Telecommunications Minister Gloria Hutt praised 15 Chinese-made Inter-city trains as “one of the most important milestones in the railway development” of Chile in recent years.
According to Hutt, thanks to the leading technology, high energy efficiency, air conditioning, wireless network and barrier-free facilities, these trains will provide a safer and more comfortable travel experience for 1.2 million people along the lines.
The president of Chile’s State Railway company, Pedro Pablo Errazuriz, praised the “powerful work” of the CRRC Sifang-Temoinsa consortium, saying the quality was “foolproof.”
The consortium comprising Chinese company CRRC Sifang and Chilean firm Temoinsa won the tenders to build new trains for Biobio and La Araucania in 2018 and 2019. The trains arrived in the South American country in two separate shipments in February and March, 2021.
It is reported that these trains will be serviced and commissioned in Santiago, and will start official operation after completing 2,000 kilometers of trial operation.
In September 2019, Chilean government presented “Chile on Track”, a plan to invest more than 5 billion dollars to modernize the country’s rail network.