A consortium of six Japanese firms, including Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., has begun shipping the first batch of shinkansen-type train cars to China, it was learned Friday.
Despite the landmark deal, the delivery was a low-key affair. The cars were hoisted out of Kawasaki Heavy's Kobe factory Thursday and Friday for shipment Sunday from the port of Kobe to Qingdao in northern China.
The eight cars are part of a 480-car contract won in October 2004. China is working to increase the speed of its rail service.
The five other firms involved are Hitachi Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Mitsubishi Corp., Itochu Corp. and Marubeni Corp.
Observers say the companies may have chosen not to mark the shipment with a ceremony because of tensions between China and Japan over such issues as Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine.
Explaining the decision not to mark the event, Kawasaki Heavy Industry officials said they have left all promotional activities up to the Chinese manufacturer with which the consortium is cooperating on the project.
Of the total 480 cars in the deal -- 60 trains of eight cars each -- 24 will be built in Japan. The remainder are to be built in China by the Chinese partner, which will receive technical assistance from the consortium.
The cars are based on the Hayate type-cars currently used on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line and can run at more than 220 kph.
