Fuxing (train)

Fuxing (simplified Chinese: 复兴号; traditional Chinese: 復興號; pinyin: Fùxīng Hào; lit. 'Rejuvenation'), also known as the CR series EMU (or as the Fuxing Hao), is a series of high-speed and higher-speed EMU trains operated by China Railway High-speed (CRH) and developed by CRRC. They are the first successful high-speed trains to be fully designed and manufactured in China.
Initially known as the China Standardized EMU, development on the project started in 2012, and the design plan was finished in September 2014. The first EMU rolled off the production line on 30 June 2015. The series received its current designation of Fuxing in June 2017, with nicknames such as "Red Dragon" (CR400AF) and "Golden Phoenix" (CR400BF) for certain units. It is among the world's fastest conventional high-speed trains in regular service, with an operating speed of 350 km/h (220 mph) for the CR400AF and CR400BF models.
Internationally exported versions of the train sets also operate in Indonesia on the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway from 2023, with a derivative version of the CR400AF, also known as the KCIC400AF or "Komodo Merah" (literally: red Komodo dragon) or "Petir Merah" (literally: red lightning).
The upcoming CR450, designed for a maximum operating speed of 400 km/h (250 mph), is expected to enter service by 2025. In 2023, Chinese state media reported a CR450 train attained a speed of 453 km/h (281 mph) during a test run.
In 2004, China's Ministry of Railways contracted Bombardier Transportation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Alstom to supply the first high-speed trains for China, which later known as Hexie (simplified Chinese: 和谐号; traditional Chinese: 和諧號; pinyin: Héxié Hào; lit. 'Harmony'), with Chinese partners CNR and CSR. The four foreign companies agreed to manufacture high-speed trains for China as well as provide technology transfer for local production.
Some of the Hexie (Harmony) train sets are manufactured locally through technology transfer, a key requirement for China. The signalling, track and support structures, control software, and station design are developed domestically with additional foreign elements. By 2010, the track system as a whole was predominantly Chinese. China currently holds many new patents related to the internal components of these trains, re-designed in China to allow the trains to run at higher speeds than the foreign designs allowed.
However, most of Hexie's (Harmony's) patents are only valid within China, and as such hold no international power. The weakness of intellectual property of Hexie caused obstacles for China to export its high-speed rail related technology, which led to the development of the completely redesigned train brand called Fuxing (simplified Chinese: 复兴号; traditional Chinese: 復興號; pinyin: Fùxīng Hào; lit. 'Rejuvenation') that is based on local technology.
Started in 2012, CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles (now CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles), under the guidance of China Railway Corporation, with a collection of enterprises, universities, and research institutes, carried out the development of a more advanced China Standardized EMU. In December 2013, CRRC Changchun completed developing the general technical conditions for EMUs, and completed the plan design in September 2014. The new EMU was rolled off the production line on 30 June 2015.
According to the arrangement for the China Standardized EMU research and development work, the EMUs will receive 600,000 km (372,823 mi) experimental verification and optimization. They started to experimental work at National Railway Test Center of China Academy of Railway in Beijing after they rolled off, and they were tested at up to 160 km/h (100 mph).
On 18 November 2015, the China Standardized EMU hit a speed of 385 km/h (240 mph) and passed the high speed test on Datong–Xi'an Passenger Railway. The EMU was tested under complicated conditions, including on bridges, in tunnels, and on slopes and turns.
On 15 July 2016, the two China Standardized EMUs in opposite directions passed each other at 420 km/h (260 mph) (relative speed to one another of 840 km/h (520 mph)) during test runs on Zhengzhou–Xuzhou high-speed railway.
On 15 August 2016, the China Standardized EMU has started operation on Harbin–Dalian High-Speed Railway. The train was running as Train No. G8041 and departed from Dalian North railway station to Shenyang railway station.
From the end of 2016 to the beginning of 2017, several subsidiaries of CRRC gained licences from the National Railway Administration to produce the rolling stocks.
The China Standardized EMU started its experimental long haul service on Beijing–Hong Kong High-Speed Railway on 25 February 2017.
On June 25, 2017, the official public name of the China Standardized EMU was unveiled as "Fuxing", signaling a departure from the "和谐号" (Harmony) branding of the previous high speed trains. The next day, a CR400AF departed on its maiden journey from the Beijing South railway station, traveling toward Shanghai, at the same time a CR400BF left Shanghai Hongqiao railway station on its maiden journey bound for Beijing.
After extensive testing since its debut, 350 km/h (220 mph) operation returned to the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway using Fuxing trains on September 21, 2017, once again making the Chinese high speed railway network the fastest in the world.
An 8-car Fuxing set is 209 m (685 ft 8 in) long, 3.36 m (11 ft 0 in) wide and 4.06 m (13 ft 4 in) high. It has an axle load of less than 17 t (37,479 lb). The train can carry 556 passengers, with 10 in business class, 28 in first class, and 518 in second class. The train also reduces energy consumption, and adopts a standard parts design. It also has reinforced safety features compared with older EMUs.
The spacing of seats of Fuxing (Rejuvenation) is larger than Hexie (Harmony), with the first class at 1,160 mm (46 in) and the second class 1,020 mm (40 in). It also provides Wi-Fi access.
All variants of Fuxing train are compatible. The EMU models shares the same standard required by China Railway Corporation, hence the name China Standardized EMU. Fuxing train models can be identified by the designation. The number in the designation represents the speed class in kilometers per hour. The first letter after speed is the manufacturer code, with A being the CRRC Qingdao Sifang and B being the CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. The second letter after the speed represents whether the train set is powered by self-propelled multiple units or locomotives.
For CR400AF and CR400BF series EMUs, there may also be a letter as a sub-model.
A represents the 16-car grouping. Compared with the ordinary standard type, carriages 8 and 9 are designed to be connected. B represents the 17-car grouping. Compared with the 16-car grouping, one second-class car is added to increase the passenger flow capacity during peak periods. G stands for those that can operate in harsh conditions. Although the overall data and structure are the same as the ordinary standard type, it has the added ability to withstand wind, sand, rain, snow, fog, ultraviolet rays and other severe weather. It can drive in low-temperature environments of –40 °C. Some variants have two letters indicating combined configuration, such as type GZ being the train set featuring sandstorm and cold resistant capability (type G) and redesigned interior and exterior (type Z).
CR450AF
8-car prototype model with operating speed of 400 km/h.
CR450BF
8-car prototype model with operating speed of 400 km/h.
The CR450 is a Fuxing train series currently under development. As of 2023, it has not yet been put into commercial operations but according to Zhao Hongwei, chief researcher of the China Academy of Railway Sciences, the train's general design is expected to be finalized in 2024. The model is being produced from the China Railway 450 Technology Innovation Project, that was started by Beijing with the purpose to develop the next generation of high-speed trains, and part of China's fourteenth five-year plan between 2021 and 2025.
The train encompasses nine new independently developed technologies that includes carbon ceramic braking, pantograph active control, eddy current braking, and permanent magnet traction systems. Since April 2023, the new model has undertaken over 60 tests to evaluate its dynamics when running on tracks and going though tunnels, and as well as train meet scenarios, where two trains pass each other while moving in opposite directions. In June 2023, a CR450 sped at 453 km/h (281 mph) during a test run that travels through the Meizhou Bay cross-sea bridge, and its relative velocity had reached 891 km/h (554 mph), which set a new world record for the fastest closing speed among two trains passing each other.
It is expected to enter service by 2025 with a top operating speed of 400 km/h (249 mph), surpassing the current fastest operating speeds of other high-speed trains in China.