The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is set to kick off in Mexico on June 11 local time. According to the CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd., 115 new-type light rail trains developed and manufactured by the company have been put into game-time operation in the three host cities—Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara.

According to the company, this train model will be used on the direct express line to the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, the main venue for the World Cup opening ceremony. Tailored to the high altitude and high humidity during the rainy season in Mexico City, the trains are equipped with regenerative braking, low-noise ventilation systems, and enhanced accessibility facilities. Differentiated designs have been implemented to meet the operational needs in each city. For example, on the Monterrey Light Rail Line 1, which runs directly to the stadium, the trains have been upgraded in control systems, efficiency, and operational performance. The Guadalajara Light Rail Line 4 integrates the city's densely populated southern area into the rail transit network, allowing residents and football fans to transfer to the BRT loop line to reach Akron Stadium.

To cope with the surge in passenger flows during the event, the CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive team has established a three-tier rapid response mechanism in Mexico, adding senior service engineers on standby and setting up a 24-hour emergency and technical support team to ensure high-intensity and high-frequency operation of the trains. The company will launch a "Green Energy Station" check-in campaign locally, offering green travel guides.

Following the Beijing Olympics, the Rio Olympics, and the Brazil 2022 World Cup, Chinese rail transit equipment is once again powering a major global sporting event.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.  

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: Voice of Hunan