2000–present
Dalian locomotive works' parent company, state-owned China National Railway Locomotive & Rolling Stock Industry Corporation (LORIC), was split into the northern and southern groups in 2002; the locomotive works part of China Northern Locomotive & Rolling Stock Industry (Group) Corporation along with other rail vehicle manufacturers in China.[26] The locomotive works was also incorporated as a limited company in 2003,[1] known as CNR Group Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock or just CNR Dalian.
In the first decade of the 21st century the plant began producing two new mainline locomotive product types; the China Railways HXD3 electric locomotives in association with Toshiba, a joint venture with Toshiba was formed in 2002 to manufacture electric equipment for rolling stock.[27] Also in the 2000s the diesel electric locomotives China Railways HXN3 were produced at Dalian in association with GM EMD.
As part of the initial public offering, the stake of CRN Dalian was transferred to an intermediate holding company China CNR in 2008.
In 2009 the company obtained its first export order to supply locomotives to a western country, an order for 20 New Zealand DL class locomotives.[28]
In 2009 the groundbreaking ceremony took place for a new plant in the Lüshun economic development zone (Lushunkou District); the new facility was developed in conjunction with the municipal council of Dalian city. The facility, on a 2 km site, is designed to have a production of around 1000 locomotives, 1000 rail vehicles and 1000 diesel engines per year.[29] The plant officially opened in August 2011, the first vehicles on the production line were metro passenger units for Line 2, Tianjin Metro.[30]
In 2015, they delivered the prototype of the 8MLB light rail vehicle to Manila[31] as part of the MRT Line 3 capacity expansion project.[32] Being the first light rail vehicles made by the company, these faced several controversies, including weight and compatibility issues,[33][34] as well as contractual restrictions involving the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Sumitomo Corporation-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-TES Philippines (TESP) consortium overseeing the line's rehabilitation.[35] After 10 years of storage, and following technical audits by TÜV Rheinland and final safety checks by Sumitomo, the 8MLB LRVs officially entered regular revenue service on July 16, 2025. [36]
One of the company's latest export orders came in January 2015 from the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority for 15 metro trains for the Lagos Rail Mass Transit system in Nigeria, with an option for 14 more.[38] This order came about following a failed acquisition of old H-series carriages retired from the Toronto Subway. In the same year an order was placed for 14 eight car trains for Blue Line of the Kolkata Metro.[39]
