China's CR450 to set new benchmarks for global high-speed rail with cutting-edge techs

China

China's CR450 to set new benchmarks for global high-speed rail with cutting-edge techs

2025-10-20 14:52 Last Updated At：10-21 00:47

China's next-generation high-speed train, the CR450, currently undergoing operational testing on the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu high-speed railway, is poised to set new global benchmarks for high-speed rail performance.

Launched in 2021 as one of the 102 key national projects under China's 14th Five-Year (2021-2025) Plan, the CR450 prototype rolled off the production line late last year and has already shattered multiple world records. During recent trials, a single CR450 train reached a top speed of 453 kilometers per hour, while two trains passing each other achieved a staggering combined relative speed of 896 km/h, the highest ever recorded for high-speed rail.

Before entering commercial service, the CR450 must complete 600,000 kilometers of rigorous testing across diverse conditions, in line with national technical standards. But early results suggest it is well on track to become the world's fastest commercially operated high-speed train, with an expected operational speed of 400 km/h, surpassing the current global benchmark of 350 km/h -- set by China's CR400 "Fuxing" trains.

To achieve such unprecedented performance, engineers have reimagined the train's design. The nose cone has been extended from 12.5 to 15 meters, making it longer, sharper, and more streamlined so as to significantly reduce air resistance. The undercarriage is now almost fully enclosed, with lower side skirts and fully shrouded bogies, giving the train a sleek appearance reminiscent of a high-performance sports car.

The train's overall height has been reduced by 20 centimeters, and the extensive use of advanced lightweight materials, including carbon fiber composites and magnesium alloys, has slashed its weight by 50 tons. These innovations together cut aerodynamic drag by 22 percent, enabling remarkable acceleration: the CR450 reaches 350 km/h from a standstill in just 4 minutes and 40 seconds, 100 seconds faster than the current CR400 trains.

Beyond speed, the CR450 excels in sustainability and passenger experience. It is powered by permanent-magnet traction motors that deliver 11,000 kilowatts of power and offer over three-percent higher energy conversion efficiency compared with the asynchronous motors used in earlier models.

Remarkably, this leap in performance comes without trade-offs. Thanks to advanced acoustic insulation in windows and doors, the train's cabin noise at 400 km/h is just 68 decibels, comparable to the interior of a car cruising at 70 km/h.

Moreover, the CR450 surpasses existing high-speed trains in multiple aspects, including energy efficiency, braking distance, and ride comfort.

The CR450 is scheduled to undergo comprehensive near-operational trials next year on the Chengdu-Chongqing section of the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu high-speed railway. If successful, it will mark the world's first commercial high-speed rail service operating regularly at 400 km/h.

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"The EU is implementing its Joint Statement commitments in line with standard legislative practice, keeping the U.S. administration fully informed throughout," the spokesperson said.

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