Dalian Locomotive, a subsidiary of the China North Locomotive and Rolling Corp, has won a contract to supply a further eight Class DL diesel locomotives to KiwiRail of New Zealand, taking its total exports to the country to 48, according to CNR Dalian.

CNR Dalian has also signed a maintenance contract to support the DL fleet, which is China's first deal of offering maintenance services beyond manufacturing to developed country.

According to the contract, the eight locomotives will be delivered by the end of 2014.

KiwiRail ordered an initial 20 Class DL locomotives in September 2009, in what was CNR's first order to supply diesel locomotives to a western country.

A second batch of 20 ordered in June 2011 incorporated modifications based on experience from the introduction of the first locomotives, and as a result have been commissioned very quickly and are already performing well in full service, according to KiwiRail.