CRRC Dalian Co., Ltd.
Corporate brand
UnclaimedCRRC Dalian is a Chinese railway-equipment manufacturer known for diesel and electric locomotives, multiple units, metro vehicles, and diesel engines.
Last updated October 9, 2026
Overview
CRRC Dalian Co., Ltd. is a major Chinese railway rolling-stock and propulsion manufacturer based in Dalian, Liaoning Province. Its industrial lineage reaches back to 1899, when a locomotive and railway workshop was established at Shahekou during construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway and the development of Dalian as a port city. Over more than a century, the works operated under Russian, Japanese, Manchukuo, Soviet, and Chinese railway administrations before becoming part of the modern state-owned Chinese rail-equipment structure. The company’s historical importance comes particularly from locomotive production. During the steam era it built and developed several Chinese railway locomotive types, including the JS class. It then became one of the principal centers of China’s transition from steam to diesel traction. A prototype diesel-electric locomotive known as JuLong was developed in 1958, diesel production began to expand during the 1960s, and the first DF4 locomotive was produced in 1969. Later DF4 variants, including the DF4B and DF4D, became among China’s most widely used mainline diesel locomotives. By the end of the twentieth century, Dalian was reported to account for a substantial share of China’s diesel-locomotive production and exports. The company also developed a significant engineering and research base. It worked with Ricardo on diesel-engine performance and efficiency during the 1980s and later cooperated with Southwest Research Institute on locomotive-engine design. Its product scope expanded from locomotives to diesel engines, electric traction equipment, multiple units, metro trains, light-rail vehicles, and related components. Partnerships with Toshiba supported production of electric railway equipment, while cooperation with General Motors Electro-Motive Diesel contributed to the HXN3 diesel-electric locomotive program. Dalian became part of China’s northern railway-equipment group after the restructuring of the former national locomotive and rolling-stock industry in the early 2000s. It was incorporated as a limited company in 2003, became associated with the listed China CNR structure in 2008, and entered the CRRC organization following the 2015 merger of China CNR and CSR. The company consequently operates as an unlisted operating subsidiary within CRRC rather than as a separately traded public company. Its international business includes locomotive exports to Myanmar, New Zealand, and other markets, as well as metro and light-rail projects in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. A new production facility in Dalian’s Lüshun economic development area opened in 2011, broadening capacity for locomotives, rail vehicles, and diesel engines. Export programs have included New Zealand’s DL locomotives, metro trains for Lagos, and trainsets for Kolkata. The company has also supplied light-rail vehicles for Manila’s MRT Line 3, although that program experienced prolonged technical, contractual, and compatibility difficulties before the vehicles entered regular service in 2025. CRRC Dalian’s present identity therefore combines a historic Chinese locomotive works with a modern, export-oriented CRRC manufacturing platform.
History
CRRC Dalian traces its origins to a railway workshop founded in 1899 at Shahekou in connection with construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway and the growth of Dalian. In 1905, following the Russo-Japanese War and the Treaty of Portsmouth, the works came under Japanese control. From 1906 it was associated with the Japanese-controlled South Manchuria Railway. In 1934, the plant worked with Kawasaki Heavy Industries on the Asia Express high-speed steam train. At the end of the Second World War, Dalian came under Soviet control and the railway was subsequently operated through a period of joint Chinese and Soviet administration. In 1952, control of the railway and workshop passed fully to the Chinese government. The state-owned works continued steam-locomotive development, producing a prototype HP locomotive in 1956 and beginning production of JS-class locomotives in 1957. The JS design ultimately became one of the most numerous steam-locomotive types built for Chinese railways. Dalian shifted decisively toward diesel traction in the late 1950s and 1960s. Its JuLong prototype appeared in 1958, drawing on Soviet and Fairbanks-Morse engineering concepts. Diesel-electric DF production followed in 1964, and the first DF4 locomotive was completed in 1969. The DF4 family, later including DF4B and DF4D derivatives, became a dominant Chinese mainline diesel platform. During the 1980s, the works collaborated with Ricardo on improving the output and efficiency of its DL240 diesel engines. In 1997, it began a further diesel-engine design collaboration with Southwest Research Institute of the United States. The factory started exporting mainline diesel locomotives in 1993, initially to Myanmar. By the middle of the following decade, it had exported more than 200 diesel locomotives. Around 2000, it was reported to produce approximately half of China’s domestically supplied diesel locomotives and most of the country’s diesel-locomotive exports. Institutional restructuring followed the reorganization of China’s railway-equipment industry. The former China National Railway Locomotive & Rolling Stock Industry Corporation was divided into northern and southern groups in 2001–2002. Dalian became part of China Northern Locomotive & Rolling Stock Industry Group and was incorporated as a limited company in 2003. Its ownership was subsequently placed within China CNR in connection with that company’s 2008 public offering. The merger of China CNR and CSR created CRRC Corporation Limited on June 1, 2015, making Dalian part of the CRRC group. During the 2000s, the company broadened its technology portfolio. It produced HXD3 electric locomotives in cooperation with Toshiba and participated in HXN3 diesel-electric locomotive production with General Motors Electro-Motive Diesel. A joint venture established with Toshiba in 2002 manufactured electric equipment for railway vehicles. Dalian also expanded beyond conventional locomotives into metro vehicles, multiple units, light-rail vehicles, and diesel engines. A new facility in the Lüshun economic development zone was launched with municipal cooperation. Construction began in 2009 and the plant opened in August 2011. Its planned capacity was approximately 1,000 locomotives, 1,000 rail vehicles, and 1,000 diesel engines annually, although actual output and later capacity utilization are not established by the supplied sources. Metro units for Tianjin Metro were among the first vehicles produced there. International urban-rail activity became increasingly prominent. In 2015, the company delivered prototype 8MLB light-rail vehicles to Manila for the MRT Line 3 capacity-expansion program. The vehicles became subject to controversy concerning weight, compatibility, and contractual responsibilities among the Philippine Department of Transportation, Sumitomo Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and the TESP consortium. They remained unused for roughly a decade before technical audits and final safety procedures preceded reported entry into passenger service in July 2025. Other 2015 business included the Lagos metro order and a Kolkata Metro Blue Line order. CRRC Dalian remains an unlisted CRRC operating company producing locomotives, urban rail vehicles, engines, and related equipment.
- 2015
Becomes part of CRRC
[1]The merger of China CNR and CSR created CRRC Corporation Limited, bringing Dalian into the consolidated CRRC group.
- 2011
Lüshun facility opens
[1]The new plant opened and began producing railway vehicles, including metro units for Tianjin Metro.
- 2009
New Lüshun plant construction begins
[1]Construction started on a new production facility in Dalian’s Lüshun economic development zone.
- 2003
Company incorporated as CNR Dalian
[1]Following the restructuring of China’s railway-equipment industry, the works became a limited company within the northern CNR group.
- 1993
Diesel locomotive exports begin
[1]The company made its first export of a mainline diesel locomotive, supplying Myanmar.
- 1969
First DF4 locomotive completed
[1]The first DF4 diesel locomotive was produced; the family later became a major Chinese mainline locomotive platform.
- 1958
JuLong diesel prototype produced
[1]Dalian produced the JuLong diesel-electric prototype, an important step in its transition from steam to diesel traction.
- 1952
Railway control transferred to China
[1]After a period of joint administration, the railway and works passed to sole Chinese government control.
- 1934
Asia Express steam train developed
[1]The factory worked with Kawasaki Heavy Industries on the Asia Express high-speed steam train.
- 1905
Works come under Japanese control
[1]The Shahekou works changed hands after the Russo-Japanese War and became associated with the South Manchuria Railway.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Products and positioning
A large state-affiliated Chinese rail-equipment manufacturer with deep expertise in locomotive engineering, diesel propulsion, electric traction, and urban rail vehicles.
Diesel-electric locomotives · 1969
DF4 series
The DF4 family is one of Dalian’s defining locomotive programs. The first locomotive was produced in 1969, followed by important derivatives such as the DF4B and DF4D. The series became a widely used Chinese mainline diesel platform and represented the company’s central role in replacing steam traction with diesel power.
Electric locomotives
HXD3
The HXD3 is an electric locomotive platform produced by Dalian with Toshiba-related cooperation. It represents the company’s expansion from diesel propulsion into high-power electric traction and modern railway electrical systems.
Diesel-electric locomotives
HXN3
The HXN3 program was developed and produced with participation from General Motors Electro-Motive Diesel. It reflects Dalian’s use of international technical partnerships in contemporary high-power diesel locomotive development.
Export diesel locomotives · 2009
DL-class locomotives
The DL-class locomotives were supplied to New Zealand under a 20-locomotive order announced in 2009. The contract was described as Dalian’s first mainline locomotive export to a Western country.
Light-rail vehicles · 2015
8MLB
The 8MLB is a light-rail vehicle developed for Manila’s MRT Line 3 capacity expansion. Delivered as prototypes in 2015, the vehicles became associated with disputes over weight, compatibility, and contractual arrangements, remained stored for years, and were later reported to have entered regular service in July 2025.
Locomotive platform
CKD8
CKD8 is identified in the reference material as one of CRRC Dalian’s locomotive products. The supplied sources do not provide enough technical detail to describe its propulsion system, variants, or principal markets.
Controversies
2015
Manila 8MLB vehicle controversy
CRRC Dalian’s 8MLB light-rail vehicles for Manila MRT Line 3 faced controversy concerning vehicle weight, compatibility with the existing system, and contractual restrictions involving Philippine government authorities, Sumitomo Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and the TESP consortium. The vehicles were stored for approximately ten years before technical audits and safety checks preceded their reported entry into regular service in 2025.
Brand decisions
2015
Deliver 8MLB light-rail prototypes to ManilaProduct launchBackground
Manila MRT Line 3 required additional vehicles as part of a capacity-expansion and rehabilitation program.
Action taken
Dalian delivered 8MLB light-rail vehicle prototypes for the line.
Aftermath
The vehicles were stored for years amid technical and contractual disputes before reported revenue service in 2025.
2009
Build Lüshun production facilityStrategyBackground
Dalian needed additional capacity for locomotives, urban rail vehicles, and diesel engines.
Action taken
The company began construction of a new plant in the Lüshun economic development zone with cooperation from the Dalian municipal government.
Aftermath
The facility opened in 2011 and broadened the company’s manufacturing footprint.
2002
Join northern railway-equipment restructuringStrategyBackground
China reorganized the former national locomotive and rolling-stock industry into northern and southern groups.
Action taken
Dalian became part of China Northern Locomotive & Rolling Stock Industry Group and was subsequently incorporated as a limited company.
Aftermath
The restructuring placed Dalian within the corporate chain that later led to China CNR and then CRRC.
2002
Establish Toshiba locomotive-equipment cooperationStrategyBackground
Dalian sought to expand from traditional diesel locomotive production into modern electric traction equipment.
Action taken
A joint venture with Toshiba was formed to manufacture electric equipment for rolling stock.
Aftermath
The cooperation supported Dalian’s participation in electric locomotive programs including HXD3.
Recent events
- 2025
Manila 8MLB light-rail vehicles enter regular service[1]
Product launch · Other
After a prolonged period of storage, technical review, and safety checks, the 8MLB vehicles supplied for Manila MRT Line 3 reportedly entered regular revenue service on July 16, 2025.
- 2015
CRRC Dalian wins Lagos metro train order[1]
Product launch · Other
The company obtained an order for 15 metro trains for the Lagos Rail Mass Transit system, with an option for 14 additional trains.
- 2015
Kolkata Metro Blue Line train order[1]
Product launch
An order was placed for 14 eight-car trainsets for the Blue Line of the Kolkata Metro.
- 2011
Lüshun production facility opens[1]
Product generation · Other
A new Dalian facility in the Lüshun economic development area began operations, initially placing metro passenger units for Tianjin Metro on its production line.
- 2009
CRRC Dalian supplies locomotives to New Zealand[1]
Product launch · Other
CRRC Dalian received an order for 20 DL-class mainline diesel locomotives, described as its first locomotive export order to a Western country.
Sources5 sources
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