China high-speed train CR450, scheduled to roll off the assembly line within this year, can run at a speed of 400 kilometers per hour, along with its advanced braking system and exceptional performance capabilities.
At the China Academy of Railway Sciences Corporation, the CR450's key systems are undergoing rigorous testing, including its pivotal braking system, which is crucial for the train to stop steadily and precisely.
"The most critical system is the braking system that holds the train steady. For optimal safety, the braking system [for CR450 train] is designed to maintain the same breaking distance of 6,500 meters as the CR400 train runs at the speed of 350 kilometers per hour. We need to increase the braking capacity of the entire train," said Zhao Weihong, chief researcher at the China Academy of Railway Sciences Corporation.
In addition to the braking system, the CR450 integrates key enhancements in traction power, network control, and safety monitoring through specialized digital models. Through precise calculation with these models, scientists have found the solution to optimize the train for faster speeds, more steady stopping, and lower energy consumption, by improving its shape and weight.
Recent experimental data reveal that with the weight of about 10 tons, about 12 percent lighter than the existing CR400 Fuxing train, the CR450 train can operate with 20 percent less resistance and energy consumption. Though it runs 50 km/h faster than its predecessor, the CR450 train maintains the same braking distance, noise level, and energy efficiency.