Beijing:
China on Sunday unveiled an updated model of its high-speed train, which the manufacturer claims reached speeds of 450 km/h during test runs, making it the fastest high-speed train in the world.
According to the China State Railway Group Co (China Railway), the new model, known as the CR450 prototype, will further shorten travel time and improve connectivity, making travel more convenient and efficient for the country's large passengers.
The CR450 prototype reached a test speed of 450 km/h, with key performance indicators – operating speed, energy consumption, interior noise and braking distance – setting a new international benchmark, official media reported here.
It is significantly faster than the CR400 Fuxing high-speed rail (HSR) currently in use, which operates at speeds of 350 km/h, according to a report by state-owned Xinhua.
China Railway will organize a series of line tests for the prototypes and optimize the technical indicators to ensure that the CR450 enters commercial use as soon as possible, the company said.
According to the latest official figures, China's operational HSR tracks have reached approximately 47,000 km, connecting major cities in the country.
Although not profitable, China says the expansion of the HSR network has played a crucial role in the country's economic and social development, reducing travel times and boosting industrial development along rail lines.
According to internal surveys, the Beijing-Shanghai train service was the most profitable, while the networks in other cities have not yet become lucrative.
In recent years, China's HSR has exported its network in Thailand and Indonesia and built the Belgrade-Novi Sad HSR in Serbia.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Our staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)