Balfour Beatty rail contract in China

Balfour Beatty Rail announce it has been awarded a GBP34 (euro 50) million contract for new high-speed dedicated passenger line between Wuhan and Guangzhou in China.

The export division of Balfour Beatty Rail in Germany is responsible for design, supply, supervision of installation and commissioning of the overhead contact line system.

The 968 km double-track line will be operated with a speed of 300 kph, design speed being 350 kph.

A part of the route consists of 410 km bridges and viaducts, 170 km in tunnels and 18 stations.

The Chinese authorities are realizing their concept for localisation: 20% of the catenary components for this line will be sourced from Sino-foreign Joint Ventures, one of them being the Joint Venture between Baoji Line Parts Works of CEEB (China), Bonomi Spa (Italy) and Balfour Beatty Rail (Germany) signed 21 June 2007.

The project will be completed by the end of 2009 and commercial operation will commence 1 January 2010.

After attending the signing ceremony on 10 August 2007 under presence of the Chinese Ministry of Railways, CEEB and other high ranking officials, Manfred Leger, Group Managing Director Balfour Beatty, said: "We are delighted to have secured this contract and we look forward to provide the end-client Ministry of Railways (MOR) with our international high-speed competence".

"This contract enables us to further develop our local presence in China, a market where we see long-term opportunities.".

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