(ECNS) -- China on Sunday unveiled a prototype of the CR450 bullet train, capable of running at speeds of 400 kilometers per hour. What makes it the fastest high-speed train in the world and when will it be operational?
Zhang Bo, director of the Rolling Stock Institute at the China Academy of Railway Sciences Group Corporation, stated that the research for the CR450 began in 2018 with exploratory trials conducted on various routes before finalizing the prototype.
It has done a lot of work in terms of higher speed and safe operation, drag reduction, lower energy consumption, vibration and noise reduction, as well as intelligence and lightweight, said Zhang. “Current technologies adopted by the CR450 reduces its drag by 22 percent.”
Speaking of operation time, Zhang said that after the release of the CR450 prototype, a series of tests and validations has to be done.
“Tests below and above the speed of 200 kilometers per hour will be conducted on circling and unopened high-speed railway lines and then the train has to accept a 600,000-kilometer test,” he said.
Zhang noted that it is necessary to study the matching between the CR450 vehicle and routes, including the matching between it and bridges and tunnels, infrastructure, and communication signals, before determining which routes it will run.
“As a science and technology worker, I hope that the vehicle can be applied on busy trunk lines such as the Beijing-Shanghai rail line as soon as possible in order to maximize its benefits,” he said.
Zhang emphasized that speed is a critical benchmark of a nation’s high-speed rail capabilities. Therefore, all countries have attached great importance to speed.
The speed of high-speed rail vehicles depends on theoretical support and technological breakthroughs, he said.
“The CR450 vehicle reaches 400 kilometers per hour because of a series of technological breakthroughs and the use of new materials, structures, and devices,” Zhang added.