Mitsubishi, Hitachi form rail system export joint venture

Japanese industrial powerhouses Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and Hitachi, Ltd. have formed a joint venture “to work cooperatively in the field of intra-city railway systems for overseas markets,” the two companies announced Tuesday. The joint venture will concentrate on offering services ranging from marketing to design, manufacturing, procurement, engineering, construction, installation, maintenance, and development.

“Social infrastructure, such as power systems and railway systems, is expected to expand, particularly in emerging countries,” MHI and Hitachi said. “Even in developed nations and regions, which already have a certain level of social infrastructure, there is demand for upgrading social infrastructure supported by advanced information and telecommunications systems.”

MHI and Hitachi have identified Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North America, and Central and South America as target markets “to build new railway systems or extend existing ones, or make systems faster with improved railcars and systems. With their complementary product lineups, MHI and Hitachi will respond to various railway system needs in the urban transportation field. The mixed product lineups include conventional commuter trains for subways and other systems, and new transportation systems such as automated people movers (APM) and light rail transit (LRT); and monorails.” The companies cited joint expertise in “entire railway systems, as well as their individual constituent elements, including railcars, signaling systems, telecommunications, power systems, and track.”