China Tests Prototypes of Its 450 km/h High-Speed Train
Prototypes of China’s high-speed train, designed to reach speeds of 450 km/h, are currently undergoing testing.
TroibNews 
China's latest high-speed train model, the CR450, is undergoing rigorous testing and evaluation of its prototypes, paving the way for its future commercial operation.
Recognized as the fastest high-speed train globally, the CR450 can achieve speeds of up to 450 kilometers per hour during both tests and operations, as reported by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.
Engineers at the testing facility are meticulously managing the "weight control" of the CR450 prototypes. They have equipped the tracks with sensors that relay real-time weight information for each of the eight wheels on both sides of every carriage to a computer system, enabling accurate monitoring and adjustments for optimal performance.
"While reducing the weight, we must ensure that its strength does not decrease, and we even need to increase its strength because of the higher speed. It's just like a person who wants to slim down while building strength. This involves structural changes and material innovations," stated Chen Can, an associate researcher at the Locomotive and Vehicle Research Institute, China Academy of Railway Sciences Corporation Limited.
To diminish air resistance during high-speed travel, researchers addressed challenges such as resonance and heat dissipation, enclosing the entire bogie area under the train for the first time.
"Ensuring the smoothness of the entire train body minimizes resistance during operation," remarked Ha Dalei, a senior designer at the National Engineering Research Center of Rail Transportation of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation, Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd.
The CR450 prototype has successfully completed static and low-speed dynamic tests focusing on traction, braking, and noise reduction. The next phase will include progressively increasing speeds during dynamic running tests.
Currently, China is the only nation to have achieved commercial high-speed rail operations at 350 kilometers per hour, and now it is pushing the envelope with an additional 50 kilometers per hour.
According to Zhang Bo, director of the Locomotive and Vehicle Research Institute at CARS since 2018, the team has dedicated years to validating the technical feasibility, developing suitable top-level technical standards, and establishing the technical pathway. Although a 50-kilometer-per-hour increase may appear modest, surmounting the associated challenges is considerable. The goals encompass attaining higher speeds while ensuring safer operations, as well as devoting significant resources to minimizing drag, energy consumption, vibrations, and noise, alongside enhancing automation and lightweight design.
These initiatives have resulted in a smoother train body, better aerodynamics, and a substantial reduction in resistance. The CR450 utilizes technological advancements that lower drag by up to 22 percent.
Zhang emphasized that the speed of high-speed trains encompasses not only a technical challenge but also an economic consideration, highlighting the importance of evaluating environmental impacts. Nevertheless, speed remains the most telling indicator of high-speed rail performance.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
Recognized as the fastest high-speed train globally, the CR450 can achieve speeds of up to 450 kilometers per hour during both tests and operations, as reported by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.
Engineers at the testing facility are meticulously managing the "weight control" of the CR450 prototypes. They have equipped the tracks with sensors that relay real-time weight information for each of the eight wheels on both sides of every carriage to a computer system, enabling accurate monitoring and adjustments for optimal performance.
"While reducing the weight, we must ensure that its strength does not decrease, and we even need to increase its strength because of the higher speed. It's just like a person who wants to slim down while building strength. This involves structural changes and material innovations," stated Chen Can, an associate researcher at the Locomotive and Vehicle Research Institute, China Academy of Railway Sciences Corporation Limited.
To diminish air resistance during high-speed travel, researchers addressed challenges such as resonance and heat dissipation, enclosing the entire bogie area under the train for the first time.
"Ensuring the smoothness of the entire train body minimizes resistance during operation," remarked Ha Dalei, a senior designer at the National Engineering Research Center of Rail Transportation of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation, Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd.
The CR450 prototype has successfully completed static and low-speed dynamic tests focusing on traction, braking, and noise reduction. The next phase will include progressively increasing speeds during dynamic running tests.
Currently, China is the only nation to have achieved commercial high-speed rail operations at 350 kilometers per hour, and now it is pushing the envelope with an additional 50 kilometers per hour.
According to Zhang Bo, director of the Locomotive and Vehicle Research Institute at CARS since 2018, the team has dedicated years to validating the technical feasibility, developing suitable top-level technical standards, and establishing the technical pathway. Although a 50-kilometer-per-hour increase may appear modest, surmounting the associated challenges is considerable. The goals encompass attaining higher speeds while ensuring safer operations, as well as devoting significant resources to minimizing drag, energy consumption, vibrations, and noise, alongside enhancing automation and lightweight design.
These initiatives have resulted in a smoother train body, better aerodynamics, and a substantial reduction in resistance. The CR450 utilizes technological advancements that lower drag by up to 22 percent.
Zhang emphasized that the speed of high-speed trains encompasses not only a technical challenge but also an economic consideration, highlighting the importance of evaluating environmental impacts. Nevertheless, speed remains the most telling indicator of high-speed rail performance.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
