China: CR450 Electric Train Sets New Speed Records

The CR450 electric multiple unit (EMU) is undergoing operational evaluation on the Shanghai–Chongqing–Chengdu high-speed railway as part of its pre-service testing phase.

Introduced late last year, the prototype has been subject to continuous trials assessing its speed, reliability and safety. Before entering commercial passenger service, the train must complete 600,000 kilometres of successful operation under test conditions.

The CR450 has now reached a top speed of 450 kilometres per hour, meeting all performance targets to date.

Recent trials have recorded a single-train speed of 453 km/h, while two CR450 units passing each other achieved a combined relative speed of 896 km/h.

The CR450’s performance improvements are primarily due to aerodynamic and structural refinements. The train’s nose has been extended from 12.5 metres, as seen on current 350 km/h models, to 15 metres, improving airflow and reducing drag.

Design modifications have reduced overall air resistance by about 22 percent. This has been achieved by enclosing the bogies, lowering the skirt panels to cover the wheels, and refining the underbody profile — measures that limit turbulence beneath the train, similar in principle to aerodynamic work in motorsport.

Additional adjustments include lowering the train’s height by 20 centimetres and reducing its total weight by around 50 tonnes.

These changes contribute to faster acceleration. The CR450 can accelerate from a standstill to 350 km/h in approximately 4 minutes and 40 seconds, compared with around 6 minutes and 20 seconds for the Fuxing series currently in operation.

The ongoing operational evaluation will continue to collect performance and reliability data across varying conditions before the CR450 is cleared for regular passenger service.