Pla-rail knockoff

[bikkuri bahn]

The message boards such as 2ch in Japan are dubbing the trains on the new Shanghai-Peking HSR line "Pakuri-go" (パクリ号) or "knockoff expresses", but it seems art imitates life also on the toy front.  Takara Tomy a while back released a CRH2 pla-rail trainset for the Chinese market (Tomy has marketed pla-rail in China since 2004).  Sure enough, a Chinese fake proudly made* in Guangdong Chenghai has already popped up, made by "Southward Toys":

 

http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/103255/210486455-389312245/New-Arrival-Set-CRH2-Harmony-Train-EMU-train-track-Toy.html

 

Some background on Southward, seems they also do Thomas fakes:

http://tttetrackmaster.wikia.com/wiki/Southward

 

*my words