China unveiled an updated model of its high-speed bullet train, which will travel at a speed of 450 kilometres per hour. Thus, making it the world’s fastest high-speed train.
The train currently in service in China is the CR400 Fuxing model. The CR400 Fuxing high-speed rail (HSR) operates at speeds of 350 kmph, a report by state-run Xinhua said.
China Unveils World’s Fastest High-Speed Train Prototype
The new model unveiled by Beijing has been named the CR450 prototype, reported PTI. This will further shorten travel time and improve connectivity, making travel more convenient and efficient for the country’s vast passengers, said the China State Railway Group Co (China Railway).
The CR450 prototype reached a test speed of 450 kmph, with key performance indicators – operational speed, energy consumption, interior noise, and braking distance – setting a new international benchmark.
China Railway will arrange a series of line tests for the prototypes and optimise technical indicators to ensure the CR450 enters commercial service as soon as possible.
China Railway Facing Loss?
According to reports, the High-Speed rail network expansion has proved to be a costly affair for Beijing and is not gaining any profits. Though not profitable, China says the HSR network expansion has played a crucial role in the nation’s economic and social development, reducing travel times and boosting industrial development along railway routes.
According to internal surveys, the Beijing-Shanghai train service was the most profitable, while the networks in other cities have yet to turn lucrative.
According to the latest official figures, China’s operational HSR tracks have reached about 47,000 kms, connecting major cities in the country. Meanwhile, apart from the domestic expansion, China’s HSR has exported its network to countries like Thailand and Indonesia. China has also built the Belgrade-Novi Sad HSR in Serbia.
(With inputs from PTI…)
