Japanese firms partner to pursue overseas rail markets

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (MHI) and Hitachi Ltd. entered into a basic agreement to work cooperatively in the field of intracity railway systems for overseas markets, with the goals of strengthening competitiveness in global markets and expanding business as a result.

MHI and Hitachi find overseas intracity railway systems are the area where the two companies can demonstrate their competitiveness most, thus, they decided to work together via efforts ranging from marketing to construction, installation and maintenance in the field.

Social infrastructure, such as power systems and railway systems, is expected to expand as a market, particularly in emerging countries. 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.

Railway systems, which are a form of green mobility, are winning increasing recognition as a means of transporting large volumes of passengers and freight with a small environmental impact. As a consequence of this, there are active moves in a host of regions around the world, including Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North America, and Central and South America, to build new railway systems or extend existing ones, or make systems faster with improved railcars and systems. The overseas railway systems market is thus continuing to grow.

 MHI and Hitachi will work together as appropriate in a broad range of fields in overseas intracity railway system projects, ranging from marketing to design, manufacturing, procurement, engineering, construction, installation, maintenance and development.

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; new transportation systems such as automated people movers (APM) and light rail transit (LRT); and monorails.

Under this agreement, MHI and Hitachi aim to leverage each other's experience and expertise to actively develop the railway systems business overseas.