Railway Industry Alarmed After Westbahn Purchase of Trains from China

"With the approval of this Chinese train, the door is not just slightly open, but fully open," warns Christian Diewald, Austria's managing director of the train manufacturer Stadler. It cannot be considered fair competition, as China does not allow the import of European trains. "What applies to us must also apply to them," demands Diewald for equal opportunities. For this reason, Chinese manufacturers are no longer allowed to offer in the USA.

Railway Industry Warns of Danger to Domestic Train Traffic from Trains from China

There are also safety concerns: domestic train traffic could be disrupted or even paralyzed from China. Modern trains are always connected to the manufacturer via mobile networks. This applies to Stadler as well as other manufacturers. The manufacturer can not only determine where the trains are operating but can also change various parameters. Therefore, trains could also be prevented from running, added Diewald.

Transport Minister Peter Hanke (SPÖ) therefore advocated for stricter approval rules for trains not manufactured in the EU. "We must be careful not to install remote control elements," said Hanke. Therefore, it is important that the software area remains accessible to and protected by European technologies. In procurement procedures where public funds are used, European manufacturers should be given preferential treatment, in his opinion.

Trains from China Could Also Endanger Military Security

Josef Doppelbauer, until last year the head of the European Railway Agency, assessed the situation similarly: He also pointed to critical data that could be queried as well as technical possibilities to hinder train traffic. Therefore, caution is also advised in the area of military security.

Even though the former head of the Railway Agency advocated for the rapid implementation of the transport minister's proposals, in his opinion, there was no way around the approval of the Chinese double-decker trains. After all, one is bound by legal frameworks and must not discriminate against anyone.

(APA/Red)

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