CSR will assemble and test the 22 six-car trains, which will be delivered in 2015-16, while Kawasaki will be responsible for the design and production of electrical systems and bogies. The vehicles will be 23.5m long and 3.2m wide with aluminium alloy bodyshells.

The two companies beat off competition from Bombardier and CAF for the order, which according to Kawasaki Heavy Industries is worth approximately Yen 17.7bn ($US 225.8m).

The trains will be used to provide additional capacity on the North South and East West lines, both of which are currently being extended.

Last year the joint venture completed delivery of an initial batch of 132 C151A cars to LTA, and a second batch of 78 vehicles is now in production.