Deutsche Bahn, Chinese Rail sign cooperation agreement

Deutsche Bahn, Chinese Rail sign cooperation agreement    German rail and logistics giant Deutsche Bahn said it will work closely with Chinese Rail to develop a high speed transport network in China.
   The two state-owned rail operators signed a cooperation agreement Monday in Beijing at which Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, and the German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel were present.
   Under terms of the agreement, Deutsche Bahn has agreed to support its Chinese counterpart with operations, passenger information and reservation systems, safety management and marketing.
   “From our point of view China is an interesting market,” said Hartmut Mehdorn, Deutsche Bahn’s chief executive officer. “The market is growing rapidly, and the flow of goods between the Far East and Europe is likewise on the increase. So it is a logical step to enter into a closer cooperation. As a provider of mobility and logistics services, we need to be actively involved wherever our customers are to be found.”
   “On the basis of the agreement, rail transport between China and Germany by way of the Trans-Siberian railroad should increase significantly,” Deutsche Bahn said in a statement. “Deutsche Bahn will moreover support China in the development and operation of its high speed transport system, involving speeds of more than 200 kilometers per hour.”