Chinese Rail Transport Appreciation & News
- Thread starter cookiez
- Start date
Don't think either CR450 models can go that fast. They should not be designed for a max speed that is much higher than their intended operating speed. That would be wasteful. Existing CR models so far all have their max speeds only slightly higher than their operating speeds.
600 km/h will be for the next generation maglev trains:
Could it be a boosted/specifically designed CR450 EMU intended to beat the record set by TGV in 2007? I recalled the CRH380AL and CRH 380BL (actually passenger EMUs, not ones built for experiments) being tested up to 486kph and 487 kph respectively in 2011 period just prior to the opening of the Beijing-Shanghai HSR. Yet, the Beijing-Shanghai HSR was designed to operate at 380kph at most (but reduced to 300kph following the Wenzhou tragedy, not operating at 350kph).
Maglev appears to be a long way off. I don't recall any high-speed maglev lines being under construction or approved by the State Council. CRRC Qingdao Sifang's 600kph maglev prototype appears to be for testing only at this stage. The Chengdu-Chongqing HSR mentioned in this image is a new regular HSR under construction.
Didn't know CRH380 can go this far above its specs in max speed. If the CR-450 models are built in the same way, yeah there are indeed chances for them to try 600 km/h on wheels even if it is just a backup for the maglev approach.
Just my own opinions…
Maglev technology has been in China for 20 years now without much visible progress. Whereas conventional HSR has obviously moved significantly. I think it is a simple case of cost-benefit. To reach those 500-600 km/h speeds the complexity of construction and geometry will increase as you mentioned. This could also necessitate increased land acquisition costs. This in turn would increase the ridership cost, which I think is less of a concern to the government if it wants a project done, but would still play a role in operational sustainability.
Full story in the posted link below
These photos show the high-speed train G828 bound for Hong Kong pulling out of Huashan North Railway Station in Weinan City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2025. A direct high-speed train route was launched on Sunday between Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
A train departed from Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, at 11:04 a.m., and another left Wuhan, the capital of central China's Hubei Province, at around 4 p.m., with both departure stations hosting performances and other celebratory activities.
Along the route linking Hong Kong with Xi'an, which also stops in Wuhan, a single trip in either direction takes under 11 hours, with other stations located in the provinces of Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Guangdong.
Trains departing from Wuhan take no more than five hours to reach Hong Kong, stopping in the Hunan and Guangdong provinces. Return trains on the route are scheduled to leave Hong Kong at 7:19 a.m. the next day.
A single trip in either direction takes less than 11 hours. Along the direct route, there are stations in the provinces of Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Guangdong. (All photos by Xinhua/Li Yibo)
Passengers board the train G828 bound for Hong Kong at Xi'an North Railway Station in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)
Staff members perform during a launch ceremony for a high-speed train service from Xi'an to Hong Kong at Xi'an North Railway Station in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2025.
A train attendant introduces the service in the dining coach of a high-speed train bound for Hong Kong in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2025.
Train attendants of a high-speed train service from Xi'an to Hong Kong pose for a photo at Xi'an North Railway Station in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2025.
These photos show the high-speed train G828 bound for Hong Kong pulling out of Huashan North Railway Station in Weinan City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2025. A direct high-speed train route was launched on Sunday between Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
A train departed from Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, at 11:04 a.m., and another left Wuhan, the capital of central China's Hubei Province, at around 4 p.m., with both departure stations hosting performances and other celebratory activities.
Along the route linking Hong Kong with Xi'an, which also stops in Wuhan, a single trip in either direction takes under 11 hours, with other stations located in the provinces of Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Guangdong.
Trains departing from Wuhan take no more than five hours to reach Hong Kong, stopping in the Hunan and Guangdong provinces. Return trains on the route are scheduled to leave Hong Kong at 7:19 a.m. the next day.
A single trip in either direction takes less than 11 hours. Along the direct route, there are stations in the provinces of Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Guangdong. (All photos by Xinhua/Li Yibo)
Passengers board the train G828 bound for Hong Kong at Xi'an North Railway Station in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)
Staff members perform during a launch ceremony for a high-speed train service from Xi'an to Hong Kong at Xi'an North Railway Station in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2025.
A train attendant introduces the service in the dining coach of a high-speed train bound for Hong Kong in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2025.
Train attendants of a high-speed train service from Xi'an to Hong Kong pose for a photo at Xi'an North Railway Station in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2025.
A staff member, dressed in traditional costume, greets passengers of the train G828 bound for Hong Kong, at Xi'an North Railway Station in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2025. A direct high-speed train route was launched on Sunday between Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
A single trip in either direction takes less than 11 hours. Along the direct route, there are stations in the provinces of Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Guangdong. (All photos by Xinhua/Li Yibo)
A lion dance performance is staged during a launch ceremony for a high-speed train service from Xi'an to Hong Kong at Xi'an North Railway Station in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2025.
Train attendants of a high-speed train service from Xi'an to Hong Kong prepare to work at Xi'an North Railway Station in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2025.
Staff members dressed in traditional costumes perform during a launch ceremony for a direct high-speed train service from Xi'an to Hong Kong at Xi'an North Railway Station in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2025.
A train attendant of a high-speed train bound for Hong Kong greets passengers at Xi'an North Railway Station in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2025.
Passengers aboard the train G828 bound for Hong Kong are pictured at Xi'an North Railway Station in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2025.
A passenger of the train G828 bound for Hong Kong takes a video before boarding the train at Xi'an North Railway Station in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 5, 2025.
冲高试验 is a test article of all HSRs. The speed in this test is the highest posssible speed. It is far higher than Max speed which is higher than normal operational speed.
Here is a CCTV report of CR380 reaching 486.1 kmph in the test.
So we have three figures:
- Operational speed, 400kmph for CR450. In all operational lines, this would be the regular top speed.
- Max speed, 450kmph for CR450. This is the top speed that the track, signal can tolerate. So it is still an operational speed that is within the regulation. But it wouldn't be used to plan the time table.
- Absolute Max speed, 600kmph for CR450, 486.1 kmph for CR380. These are like speed before a supercar driver felt loosing control or engine is sounding weird. They are only ment for knowing the upper limit, but never allowed to operate with passengers.
This route is track and wheel, not related to maglev.