China is accelerating towards a faster future with its new high-speed bullet train, the CR450. Unveiled by state-owned China State Railway Group, this prototype promises to be the fastest commercial high-speed rail in the world.
The CR450 can reach speeds of up to 280 mph (450 km/h) and will have a top commercial speed of 250 mph (400 km/h). For comparison, the current CR400 trains operate at about 220 mph (350 km/h). The CR450 would cut the travel time between Beijing and Shanghai, a 700-mile journey, to just 2.5 hours.
While still in the prototype phase, this high-speed train represents a significant achievement in technology and engineering. The CR450 is designed to be 10% lighter than previous models and reduce operational resistance by 22%. It features a streamlined bogie enclosure, low-drag sharp-nosed front, and aerodynamic windshields, all aimed at enhancing acceleration and minimizing air resistance at high speeds.
However, achieving top speeds is a different challenge from merely being capable of them. France’s TGV holds the record for conventional wheeled trains, reaching 357.2 mph in 2007, but typically operates at an average speed of 175 mph. China already operates the world’s fastest commercial trains, with several routes regularly hitting 217 mph.
To push speeds even higher, the tracks must be designed to handle these rapid accelerations, with larger curve radii needed for faster speeds. For example, a train traveling at 224 mph requires a curve radius of 6.2 miles, while a speed of 250 mph needs a 7-mile curve radius.
The Chinese government has stated that the CR450 will be operational “as soon as possible.” Meanwhile, California’s long-delayed high-speed rail project is still a work in progress, nearly two decades after its approval. Hopefully, the trains will arrive faster than the construction.
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