China’s CR450 high-speed train reached 453 km/h in testing, marking a new milestone in next-generation rail technology.
China’s next-generation high-speed train, the CR450, is touted as the world’s fastest electric multiple unit (EMU). It has completed all major technical tests. The train is now undergoing operational evaluation, a real-line verification program totalling 600,000 kilometres. This marks the final stage before the train officially enters passenger service.
A “Lonely Champion”
Currently, the CR450 is being tested in regular operation on a nearly 300-kilometre section between Yichang North and Hanchuan in Hubei Province. Since the prototype rollout late last year, the train has undergone continuous, rigorous testing and has passed all performance benchmarks. Notably, it has achieved a top speed of 453 km/h for a single unit and a combined passing speed of 896 km/h when two trains met—both representing world-class performance.
Although engineers have completed the technical evaluation, Chinese regulations require all new EMUs to accumulate 600,000 kilometres of operational testing before authorities grant clearance for commercial passenger service. Until then, authorised technical personnel can board the train. In this sense, the CR450 remains a “lonely champion,” sprinting toward the finish line in a closed-track assessment.
Engineering for Extreme Speed
To achieve its record-breaking performance, the CR450 incorporates a series of aerodynamic and structural innovations:
The nose cone has been lengthened from 12.5 meters on the current 350 km/h trains to a more streamlined 15 meters, effectively reducing aerodynamic drag.
The bogies are fully enclosed, and the skirt panels beneath the carriages are lowered, minimising the exposure of the wheels to airflow—a design philosophy reminiscent of high-performance race cars.
The train body is 20 centimetres lower and 50 tonnes lighter than its predecessor.
Over the past five years, the development team has pursued drag reduction with meticulous precision, achieving improvements in increments as small as 0.1 per cent. The result is a 22 per cent reduction in total aerodynamic resistance.
The CR450 also delivers remarkable acceleration: it can reach 350 km/h from a standstill in just 4 minutes and 40 seconds, around 100 seconds faster than the current Fuxing EMUs.
Toward the 450 km/h Era
The China Academy of Railway Sciences reports that the CR450 will begin comprehensive operational trials next year on the Chengdu–Chongqing Central High-Speed Line. These trials will simulate real-world commercial service. Industry observers expect the train to enter commercial operation in 2026, the first year of China’s 16th Five-Year Plan. This will usher in a new era of 450 km/h high-speed rail.
Written by Chen Wang, additional reporting by HKCNA, People’s Daily, CGTN.
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