In a recent series of tests, high-speed trains achieved speeds of 453 km/h and 420 km/h, further demonstrating the rapid development of high-speed rail in China, as reported by the national railway operator, China State Railway Group.
The tests were conducted on a section of the high-speed railway connecting Fuzhou and Xiamen in Fujian Province to evaluate the operational performance of the trains after they were equipped with new technological components.
The test trains traveled in opposite directions, passing each other at first at a speed of 453 km/h over the Meizhou Bay Bridge, and the next day, the trains operated at a speed of 420 km/h through the Haiwei Tunnel.
Currently, the fastest high-speed trains in China operate at speeds of 350 km/h on several lines, including high-speed rail routes from Beijing to Shanghai, Beijing to Tianjin, Beijing to Zhangjiakou, and Chengdu to Chongqing.
The results of the tests indicated that the trains demonstrated good operational performance with the new components, showcasing China’s achievements in the development of the CR450 EMU high-speed train. The trials also laid a solid foundation for the seamless operation of the “Innovative Scientific and Technological Project CR450.”
According to the railway company, the project is a major research program that is part of the national 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). It aims to develop new types of Fuxing EMUs.
To ensure the successful development of the new generation of EMUs, extensive research on simulation modeling, bench tests, and linear testing of the new technological components is necessary.
During the trial runs, 57 research tests were conducted to verify the technical feasibility and operational stability of the new CR450 EMU components. The experiments were carried out in collaboration with research institutes, enterprises, and universities, including the China Academy of Railway Sciences, CRRC Corporation, Beijing Jiaotong University, Southwest Jiaotong University, and Central South University.
Data on the components were collected under different speeds and on various sections of the railway, such as in tunnels, on bridges, and on curves. The experiments showed that the application of new technologies improved certain performance metrics of the trains. Additionally, this indicates that Chinese technologies in the fields of high-speed rail safety, power, energy consumption, acceleration characteristics, and braking stability will continue to lead the world.