World’s Fastest: China Succeeds in Test Run of 453 km/h High-Speed Train

"Test Runs Expected on Chengdu-Chongqing Central Line Next Year"

China has successfully conducted a test run of the world’s fastest high-speed train, reaching a speed of 453 km/h.

According to China Central Television (CCTV) on October 21, the Fuxing CR450 train recorded a top speed of 453 km/h during a test run on the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu high-speed rail line the previous day. This speed is 103 km/h faster than China’s previous fastest train, the CR400, which has a top speed of 350 km/h.

Currently, the maximum speeds of major countries’ high-speed trains are around 320 to 350 km/h for Indonesia’s Whoosh (Whoosh), France’s TGV, and Japan’s Shinkansen, and about 305 km/h for South Korea’s KTX-Sancheon. The CR450 has set the fastest record among them.

China CR450. China Central Television (CCTV)

The CR450 takes 4 minutes and 40 seconds to accelerate from a standstill to 350 km/h, reducing the time by 100 seconds compared to previous models. Additionally, when reaching its top speed, the noise, braking distance, and energy consumption remain at similar levels to those of the CR400. At 400 km/h, the cabin noise is comparable to that of an ordinary passenger car traveling at 70 km/h (about 68dB).

The remarkable improvement in train speed is thanks to the powerful permanent magnet synchronous traction motor, which was jointly developed by China’s largest railway construction company, the state-owned CRCC, and related companies. This motor is reported to be over 3% more efficient than the asynchronous traction motor installed in the CR400.

Design improvements also contributed to the increased speed. Changes in design reduced air resistance by about 22%, and the length of the train’s front section was smoothly extended by 2.5 meters to a total of 15 meters. The body height was lowered by 20 cm, and the overall weight was reduced by 50 tons to maximize efficiency. These structural changes played a significant role in enhancing the CR450’s ultra-high-speed performance.

The CR450 is scheduled to begin commercial operations after meeting the required performance indicators and completing 600,000 km of test runs. A representative from the China Academy of Railway Sciences stated, “Although there is no specific information yet, there will be comprehensive test runs on the Chengdu-Chongqing Central Line next year.”