Fuxing (train)
Fuxing () (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, which owns the independent intellectual property rights. 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 "Blue/Red Dolphin" (CR400AF) and "Golden  Phoenix" (CR400BF) for certain units. It is the world's fastest conventional high speed train in regular service, with a operating speed of for the CR400AF and CR400BF models. History. Background. In 2007, China's Ministry of Railways drafted a plan for China's future high-speed network. Bombardier Transportation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Alstom and later Siemens joined the high-speed train manufacture project later known as Hexie (). Forming a joint-venture with Chinese company CNR and CSR, four foreign companies signed an agreement with China to manufacture high-speed trains for China as well as provide assistance to a  Chinese company to manufacture train cars locally in the future. 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 causes obstacles for China to export its high-speed rail related technology, which led to the development of the completely redesigned train brand called Fuxing () that is based on local technology. Development. 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 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. On 18 November 2015, the China Standardized EMU hit a speed of 385 km/h 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 (relative speed to one another of 840 km/h) during test runs on Zhengzhou–Xuzhou high-speed railway. Commercialization. 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 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 "" (Harmony) branding of 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 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. Specifications and technical features. An 8-car Fuxing set is long, 3360mm wide and 4060mm high. It has an axleload of less than 17 tonnes. 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 1160 mm and the second class 1020 mm. It also provides Wi-Fi access. Variants. 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 trains can be identified by the designation. The "number" in the designation represents the speed class; 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. Additional variants can be identified with the letter after the dash: No letter indicates the standard 8 car configuration; "A" indicates 16-car configuration; "B" indicates 17-car configurations; "C" indicates 8-car multiple units with automatic train operation capability; "G" indicates 8-car sandstorm and cold climate resistant trainset; "Z" indicates 8-car configuration with redesigned interior and exterior. Some variants have two letters indicating combined configuration, such as  type "GZ" being the train set featuring extreme weather resistant capability (type "G") and redesigned interior and exterior (type "Z").