Beijing, China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of prototype of China's new high-speed train CR450 going through tests, engineers at work
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Chen Can, associate researcher, vehicle institute of China Academy of Railway Sciences Corporation Limited (starting with shot 1/partially overlaid with shot 3/ending with shot 4):
"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 also building strength. This involves structural changes and material innovations."
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3. Train wheels
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4. Train prototypes at test center
5. Bottom of train body
6. Various of engineers at work
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Ha Dalei, senior chief designer, National Engineering Research Center of Rail Transportation of CRRC (China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation) Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd (starting with shot 6/ending with shot 8):
"Stepping out of our comfort zone means to modify or overturn the established and relatively mature practices, and adapt to current technological trends and innovate continuously."
8. Various of engineers in driving room
9. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Nie Ying, senior designer, CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd (starting with shot 8/ending with shot 10):
"As our Fuxing model progresses, so do our competitors. We have been catching up and are fully aware of the difficulties involved. To maintain our lead, we must continuously explore and update technologies, and drive industry development through innovation."
10. Train running on track in test
11. Engineers monitoring train data
12. Various of train running, engineer testing noise
13. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Tian Pengyi, associate researcher, vehicle institute of China Academy of Railway Sciences Corporation Limited (starting with shot 12/ending with shot 14):
"According to the results of today's tests, the data are excellent. The noise level is far below our limit. I can't disclose the exact figure yet, but it is indeed very good."
14. Sign on train showing "CR450"
15. Various of CR450 prototypes
16. Engineers at work
17. Train running out of test center

China's new high-speed train model CR450 is currently undergoing extensive tests and evaluations on its prototypes, paving the way for the commercial operation of this new bullet train.

Known as the world's fastest high-speed train, the CR450 is capable of running at 450 kilometers per hour in tests and 400 kilometers per hour in operation, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd (China Railway).

Prototypes of the latest model in the Fuxing bullet train series were unveiled in Beijing on Dec 29, 2024.

Engineers at the test center have been carefully overseeing the "weight control" of the CR450 prototypes. To achieve this, they have installed sensors on the tracks, which transmit real-time weight data for each of the eight wheels on both sides of every carriage to a computer system. This allows for precise monitoring and adjustments to ensure 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 also building strength. This involves structural changes and material innovations," said Chen Can, an associate researcher at the vehicle institute of China Academy of Railway Sciences Corporation Limited.

The train body adopts new materials such as carbon fiber composites and magnesium alloys, alongside topology optimization technology. The fully covered structural design, for the first time, completely encloses the entire bogie area, which ensures the smoothness of the entire vehicle and minimizes the drag.

The CR450 also features the permanent magnet motor, replacing the asynchronous traction motor. To address extreme conditions, the development team designed over 40 scenarios and conducted hundreds of simulation tests around just one motor.

"Stepping out of our comfort zone means to modify or overturn the established and relatively mature practices, and adapt to current technological trends and innovate continuously," said Ha Dalei, a senior designer at the National Engineering Research Center of Rail Transportation of CRRC (China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation) Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd.

"As our Fuxing model progresses, so do our competitors. We have been catching up and are fully aware of the difficulties involved. To maintain our lead, we must continuously explore and update technologies, and drive industry development through innovation," said Nie Ying, a senior designer at CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd.

The tests also include extensive ground testings.

Although spreed increase and lightweight design posed significant challenges to noise control, the team has successfully reduced noise.

"According to the results of today's tests, the data are excellent. The noise level is far below our limit. I can't disclose the exact figure yet, but it is indeed very good," said Tian Pengyi, an associate researcher at the vehicle institute of the China Academy of Railway Sciences Corporation Limited.

After seven years of technical breakthroughs and independent innovation, the CR450 high-speed train is expected to undergo full vehicle testing and trial evaluations in 2025.