With a loud whistle, China's first EMU train exported to Europe started from Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, on the 15th and arrived in the eastern city of Veras, completing its first test run in Europe. Macedonian Prime Minister Gruevski, who tried the train, spoke highly of the "Made in China" bullet train.
The Chinese bullet train was put into use at a moment recorded in history
On the same day, the Macedonian Railway Transportation Company held a trial operation ceremony for the first electric multiple unit purchased from CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co., Ltd. Gruevski and other senior officials of the Macedonian government, Kostov, the general manager of the Malaysian Railway Transportation Company, and Wen Zhenshun, the Chinese ambassador to Macedonia, were invited to attend the ceremony and test drive the EMU.
Gruevski said that the putting into use of China's bullet trains was a moment recorded in history. "We don't need to say anything more. Look at the old trains running on the railway and compare them with the new bullet trains put into use today. Everything is there.".
Since the domestic railway system has not been invested in a large scale for more than 30 years, the Macedonian government previously planned to invest a total of 600 million euros to upgrade the rail transit system in an all-round way, including purchasing six multiple units from China.
The reporter learned that two electric multiple units will be put into Tabanovsche Skopje Gafgelia section, two internal combustion motor vehicle units will be put into Skopje Bitola section, one internal combustion motor vehicle unit will be put into Skopje Kichevo section, and one motor vehicle unit will be put into Skopje Kochani section. After all these trains are put into use, they will undertake 60% of the passenger transport capacity of Macedonian trains.
Local citizens compete to watch high-quality Chinese bullet trains
At the end of last month, China's first EMU exported to Europe arrived in Skopje. With its streamlined body and elegant interior, local citizens scrambled to see the high-quality "Made in China" that came across the sea.
Kostov, general manager of Macedonian Railway Transportation Company, said that the first EMU is expected to be officially put into use at the end of this year or the beginning of next year, because Malaysian train drivers and technicians need training and adaptation, and the other five EMUs are expected to arrive in Macedonia in the first half of next year.
Some Macedonian people who were invited to take the test train were very excited. "Taking the bullet train is a completely different new experience. Everything is full of modern flavor and runs smoothly, which makes me feel especially safe," Mitorovsky, a retired citizen of Skopje, told Xinhua News Agency.
Vocheska, who studied in Skopje, said that she would return to her hometown by train at least once a month, and the use of the Chinese bullet train would make her travel more convenient.
China's EMUs enter the European market for the first time
The export of "Made in China" EMUs to Macedonia is the first time that China's EMUs have entered the European market, marking that China's rail transit equipment industry has won a key city "Sailing".
Before that, China's rail transit products exported to Europe were generally electric locomotives, subways and light rail trains. In contrast, EMU technology is more complex and more difficult to develop.
Zhou Qinghe, Chairman and General Manager of CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd., said that CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd. has actively deployed in Europe, successfully participated in the construction of railway facilities in European countries, and promoted the development of local rail transit, thus becoming an active practitioner of China's "Belt and Road" initiative. The successful export of China EMU trains to Macedonia has brought demonstration effect and far-reaching influence to CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive&Rolling Stock Co., Ltd. to further expand the European market.