On 4 May 2017, CRRC Tangshan Co., Ltd, a China’s oldest rolling stock works, received a contract from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. According to the contract signed by general manager of SEPTA, CRRC Tangshan will supply 45 double-deck coaches to Philadelphia in the US, which marks the first time double-deck coach made by China will service for North America. The first coach is expected to be delivered by the end of 2019, and will run through Philadelphia, Delaware, Bucks, Chester, Montgomery and New Jersey, mainly used for commuting.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority paid 1.1 billion yuan ($160 million) for the coaches, with the possibility of the company ordering 10 more trains in the future.
CRRC Tangshan is a subsidiary of CRRC, which made out of China's first steam locomotive in 1881, the wheels of which were ironically made by a company in Philadelphia.
Its products have been exported to more than 20 countries such as Turkey, Argentina and Bangladesh.