China’s CR450 high-speed train prototype debuts as world’s fastest high-speed train.
China unveiled the CR450 high-speed train prototype recently. It is seen as the fastest high-speed train in the world, with a top speed of 400 kilometers per hour when operational, according to the country’s railway operator China State Railway Group (CSRG).
Key Features
The CR450 prototype surpasses international standards in several key areas, including operational speed, energy efficiency, cabin noise, and braking distance performance.
During trials, the train achieved a record speed of 450 km/h (280 mph), and is designed for a commercial operational speed of 400 km/h (250 mph).
A standout feature of the CR450 is its exceptional energy efficiency. The train has reduced running resistance by 22 percent and cut its weight by 10 percent, improving fuel efficiency. Despite the increased speed, these optimizations minimize energy consumption, ensuring sustainability at higher operational speeds.
Once in service, the CR450 will drastically reduce travel times, making journeys more efficient and convenient for passengers.
The train also enhences passenger comfort with reduced cabin noise — lowered by 2 decibels, and a 4 percent increase in passenger service space, providing a more personalized travel experience with intelligent services.
Extensive Testings
The development of CR450 is the culmination of years of research and technological innovation, which began in 2018. Extensive testing has been conducted across major high-speed rail lines.
Over 200 days of high-speed testing and 17 component trials have been completed, with a cumulative test distance exceeding 200,000 kilometers. The prototype has undergone more than 3,000 simulations and over 2,000 platform tests to meet the rigorous demands of 400 km/h operations.
The CR450 technological innovation project began in 2021, with technical trials and simulations conducted in 2022. Following extensive performance testing, the prototype production was officially launched in 2024.
Moving forward, the CSRG will conduct a series of track tests and evaluations to further refine the train’s performance, fine-tune technical specifications, and prepare for an early commercial launch.
Popular among Foreign Tourists
With the popularity of “China Travel” around the world, more foreign tourists to China like to travel by high-speed rail. Exploring small towns via high-speed rail is becoming a popular option among them.
On travelling platform Qunar, travelers from the US, South Korea have shown the most interest in high-speed rail bookings.
“I took the high-speed train from Zhuhai to Guangzhou. It is fantastic, much better than driving a car,” Luke Serdar, a tourist from Australia said. Serdar has 59,000 fans on Douyin and has published lots of content about travelling in China.
Written by Liu Sha, additional reporting by Xinhua, China Daily and Global Times.
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