China Railway Construction Corporation (CRRC) signed a supply contract for the passenger diesel multiple unit project with the Etihad Railway Company of the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.

This is the first time that China's passenger diesel EMUs have been exported to the UAE, which will help the latter establish trunk railway passenger transport services for the first time.

The project includes 21 high-speed diesel multiple units with three trains operating at a speed of 200 kph and a maximum of 140 trains with 20 supercharged options, as well as a 15-year warranty.

According to the contract, the project train is a high-speed diesel EMU with centralized power. It uses seven trains. The maximum operating speed is 200 kph, and the construction speed is 220 kph. It is currently the highest-speed internal combustion EMU in the world.

This batch of modern high-speed diesel EMUs is expected to be put into trial operation along the UAE National Railway in 2025. At that time, it will help the UAE provide a faster and more efficient new mode of transportation between key cities, and greatly shorten travel time.