China is set to supply new trains to Europe for the first time since it opened its economy to the west in 1978. Grand Central, a small British train operator, has said it is preparing to order three Chinese-built high-speed trains for a new London-Sunderland rail line.
在Grand Central星期一發表這一聲明之前，中國的制造商已經付出了多年的努力，以打入世界上最重要的客運列車市場。這使人們更加注意到歐洲的制造商是否具備與中國的低價產品競爭的能力。Grand Central's announcement on Monday followsyears of efforts by Chinese manufacturers to break into the world'smost important passenger train market and is likely to increase concernamong established European manufacturers about their ability to competewith lower-cost Chinese products.
這三列高速列車將被用于提供倫敦與桑德蘭之間的直達鐵路服務。這些列車將直接替換Grand Central根據已經運行了25年的高速列車單元改造的列車（HST），能提供140mph的運行速度并能適應將來東海岸主線的進一步提速。
The three high speed-trains will be used for anewly launched direct rail service between London and Sunderland. Therolling stock trains will be a direct replacement for Grand Central's25-year old, re-built HST (High Speed Train) units and will be capableof 140mph operation to ensure it can take advantage of any future linespeed increases on the East Coast Main Line.
據報紙報道，這三列車由中國兩個還不知道名字的國有公司制造，是根據設計、以往案例和競爭性的價格選擇出來的。每列車都設計為以柴油為動力，并提供平均每小時140英里的速度。
The three trains are manufactured by two unnamedChinese state-owned companies, which are chosen based on design, trackrecord and competitive price, newspapers reported. Each train isdesigned to run on diesel at an average speed of 140 miles per hour.
Grand Central計劃很快就和中國公司簽訂合同，訂單將于新線路服務開始時的七月份下達。這三列車將在2010年交付。
Grand Central plans to sign the contract soonwith the Chinese companies and the orders will be placed in July whenthe new line service starts. The three new trains will be delivered by2010.
英國交通部正在考慮使用不同的更便宜的中國列車，用于該國的區域性鐵路服務。
UK's Department for Transport is looking at usingdifferent Chinese trains - which could be cheaper to build and buy -for regional rail services in the country.作者: shanghai252 時間: 2007-6-5 15:17
下一折來自Grand Central的網站，即計劃買中國列車的運營商
服務于東北方向乘客的新列車
New trains for North East passengers
[Tuesday 13 April 2007]
Grand Central宣布，在桑德蘭與倫敦之間的新的直通鐵路服務投入使用之后，將立即定購新的鐵路列車。
Grand Central announces that, immediately following the launch of its new direct rail services between Sunderland and London it is preparing to place an order for new rolling stock.
新的列車將直接替換Grand Central的iconic高速列車(HST)。這些列車已經為英國的鐵路業服務了25年。新的列車將能提供140mph的運行速度，并能適應東海岸主線(ECML)的進一步提速
The new stock will be a direct replacement for Grand Central’s iconic HST (High Speed Train) that has served the UK rail industry so well over the past 25 years, and will be capable of 140 mph operation to ensure it can take advantage of any future line speed increases on the East Coast Main Line (ECML).
這些列車將來自于Grand Central的姊妹公司Soverign Trains（見后面注）。Polaris列車組將從中國采購，并在2010年交付英國，以進行最后的測試。
Stock will be made available by Grand Central’s sister company Sovereign Trains, and the "olaris" train sets will be procured from China and delivered to the UK for final testing in 2010.
Grand Central的管理總監說：
Ian Yeowart, Managing Director of Grand Central states:
交付改造的高速列車(HST)顯然是第一個目標。關于新造列車的討論已經進行了很多個月，我們有信心它們能成為HST的杰出替代品－并且顯然滿足英國鐵路網對列車的所有規定和安全要求。
"The delivery of the re-built HSTs is of course the first target, but the discussions that have taken place over many months on the new-build trains gives us confidence that they will be an exceptional replacement for the HST – and of course will meet all the regulatory and safety requirements for trains introduced to the UK rail network"
Grand Central的主席補充說：
Giles Fearnley, Chairman of Grand Central, adds:
我們很高興這個激動人心的項目能夠繼續向前推進，并且顯然新的列車也將服務于布拉德福德。
"We are delighted that this exciting project can continue to move forward, and of course the new trains will eventually be deployed on our Bradford services as well"
實際的采購過程非常緊張，受控于我們的Track Access Contract（軌道使用合同）所需的時間，Network Rail的同事們能夠在審查合同條款時將會看到這個重大投資的好處，我們很有信心。
"The actual procurement process is very much tied in to the length of our Track Access Contract, and we are confident our colleagues at Network Rail will see the benefit of this significant investment when reviewing its terms".
Soverign Trains的工程總監說：
David Shipley, Director of Engineering of Sovereign Trains comments:
我們已經在準備Grand Central的運營方面投入了很多努力和資源，我們相信乘客不僅會被新的列車留下印象，同時也將對改造的HST留下深刻印象。
"A great deal of effort and resource has been made in preparing Grand Central for operation, and we are sure passengers will be impressed not only by the new trains but also by the re-built HSTs when they come into operation"
Polaris將致力于滿足乘客需求和期望，我們期待與Network Rail的同事們共同努力，保證這些列車滿足對可靠性的期望、重量和運營容量的要求。
"The Polaris units will be very much focused on passenger requirements and expectations and we look forward to working with colleagues at Network Rail to ensure the trains meet their expectations on reliability, weight and operational capability".
Grand Central將在今年晚些時候開始每天在桑德蘭與倫敦之間運行三對列車，并準備運行第四對。他們已經向Network Rail提出了時刻表請求。另外Grand Central還有更遠期的計劃，運行倫敦經Halifax到布拉德福德的直達列車。
Grand Central will begin operating three daily services between Sunderland and London later this year, and is seeking to run a fourth service - and has already made a timetable request to Network Rail.
In addition Grand Central has long standing plans to operate direct trains between London and Bradford via Halifax.
注：
Sovereign Trains Limited
Sovereign Trains有限公司是一個專門從事歐洲列車租賃的新公司。它計劃重點關注將中國的鐵路機車車輛引入歐洲，并準備關注一下三個核心產品：
Sovereign Trains Limited is a new company that has been established to compete in the European train leasing market. It plans to focus heavily on the introduction of traction and rolling stock into the European market from China, and intends to concentrate its efforts around three core products: -
Polaris：城際快速旅客列車組，既能通過受電弓獲取動力，也能使用自己搭載的現代化的環保的柴油引擎，最高運行速度140mph
Polaris – an InterCity Express passenger train set, able to draw its power source from either overhead electrical equipment or operate under its own power using modern, environmentally efficient diesel engines – maximum speed in operation, 140 mph;
Pacemaker：柴油動力的multiple unit，適合城區之間和鄉村，一到四輛固定編組，并能重聯為12輛，最高速度75mph（可選，如果用于城區之間，100mph）
Pacemaker – a diesel powered multiple unit, suitable for inter-urban and rural services available in fixed formations from one to four vehicles and capable of operating in multiple configurations of up to twelve vehicles – maximum speed in operation, 75 mph (100 mph as an option, for inter-urban use);
Potenta：柴油動力客貨機車，根據所選的動力單元和轉向架的不同，用于重載貨運和客運。4軸和6軸單元，2850hp到4000hp的引擎，最高速度90mph
Potenta – a diesel powered “mixed traffic” locomotive, suitable for both heavy freight and passenger use, depending upon the power unit and bogie configuration selected. Available as four axle or six axle unit, with engines from 2850 hp to 4000 hp – maximum speed in operation, 90 mph.
除了上述核心產品線之外，Sovereign將尋求客運和市場的個別機會，主要通過它的聯合公司CSRE Limited從中國制造商采購。
In addition to its core product range, Sovereign will seek out individual opportunities in the passenger and freight market, and will procure, mainly from Chinese manufacturers, via its associated company, CSRE Limited.
Grand Central Railway Company Limited
Grand Central致力于向英格蘭北部的公眾提供高質量、買得起并易于使用的鐵路服務。他們現在不能享受到直達倫敦的服務。Grand Central最初的時刻表，將在今年晚些時候開始實施，如下：
Grand Central aims to deliver a high quality, affordable and accessible train service to communities across the North of England who are remote from direct services to London. Grand Central’s initial timetabled service, due to begin later this year, is as follows:
olaris" train sets will be procured from China and delivered to the UK for final testing in 2010.