CHILE: The first of six four-car electro-diesel multiple-units that CRRC Sifang is building for regional operator EFE Central is on test in China.
The 1 676 mm gauge 160 km/h units will operate on the 398 km Santiago – Chillán route, which is partially electrified.
The US$70m contract signed in December 2020 includes maintenance. Two of the six trainsets are scheduled to be delivered in the first half of this year and enter service in the middle of the year.
The rolling stock order was placed as part of a US$115m modernisation of the route, which includes station enhancements and work to increase capacity. This forms part of the Chile on Rails programme.
The trainsets will operate stopping services taking 4 h, and express services calling only at Rancagua, Talca and Chillán which will take 3 h 40 min.
They will have 236 seats, wheelchair spaces, a bistro, audiovisual passenger information, space for large luggage at the ends of the cars, wi-fi, passenger entertainment screens and accessible toilets.
‘This service will revolutionise rail transport in our country, since it will allow us to have the most modern trains in South America, capable of reaching 160 km/h. In addition, this bi-mode train can operate in the event of possible electrification disruption, as it has a diesel engine with a range of 1 000 km’, said Juan Pablo Palomino, General Manager of EFE Central.
