High-power electric locomotives built by rail transit equipment manufacturer CRRC Datong Co [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

High-power electric locomotives built by rail transit equipment manufacturer CRRC Datong Co – based in Datong city in North China's Shanxi province – have begun serving in a new channel for the Belt and Road Initiative called the China-Laos Railway, which began operating on Nov 3.

Laos is located in the core area of the Belt and Road Initiative and the opening of the China-Laos Railway is expected to facilitate travel in the areas along the railway, and bring fast and cheap international transportation services to the two countries.

The Datong-built high-power electric locomotives are also expected to further improve the logistics efficiency of the international railway and provide strong support for the development of industries along the route.

In recent years, CRRC Datong Co has expanded its business into countries engaged in the Belt and Road Initiative, such as Belarus, Ukraine and Poland. These commercial ventures have involved rail transit technology research and development and management services – with a variety of electric locomotive products used in China's freight trains heading off to Europe and Central Asia.

The freight traction services for the China-Laos Railway are seen as expanding the mutually beneficial commercial relations between CRRC Datong Co and countries along the railway, in the process realizing more efficient transnational and cross-functional cooperation services.