Next-gen higher-speed CR450 trains put on fast track

China plans to advance the engineering development of high-speed railway systems capable of supporting trains traveling at 400 kilometers per hour, as it seeks to bring its next-generation CR450 trains closer to large-scale operation.

The goal is outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for Railway Science and Technology Innovation that was released on Monday by the National Railway Administration. The plan sets out priorities ranging from higher-speed trains to artificial intelligence and green technologies.

The plan calls for the development of a family of CR450 train models, with greater improvements in aerodynamic resistance, noise reduction and axle loads to meet the requirements for large-scale operation.

It also emphasizes research into the compatibility of trains with supporting infrastructure, including tracks, bridges, tunnels, power supply and signaling systems, as well as maintenance arrangements suited to operations at 400 km/h.

Designed to operate at 400 km/h, the CR450 would be 50 km/h faster than the country's current CR400 Fuxing trains.

The two CR450 prototypes were unveiled in December 2024, marking a major milestone in China's efforts to develop faster high-speed trains.

In March, China State Railway Group, the national railway operator, said the two prototypes had passed all type tests and completed 300,000 km of operational assessments.

During trials, a single CR450 train reached 453 km/h, while two trains passing each other achieved a combined speed of 896 km/h.

Achieving the higher operating speed has required advances in braking, energy efficiency, noise control and lightweight design.

Zhao Hongwei, chief researcher at the China Academy of Railway Sciences, previously told China Daily that developing trains capable of operating at 400 km/h presented challenges without international precedents.

"We have no reference from other countries to work from," she said. "We have to be pioneers and find the solutions needed to build a train capable of a speed of 400 km/h."

According to the railway operator, the CR450's running resistance has been reduced by 22 percent and its weight cut by 10 percent compared with the CR400.

The plan also calls for research into the potential for increasing speeds on existing high-speed railways, including adaptations to supporting electrical and signaling systems. It does not specify when commercial services at 400 km/h will begin.

Beyond the CR450, the plan sets broader goals for railway innovation by 2030, including breakthroughs in at least 100 key technologies, at least 500 major scientific and technological achievements, and the establishment of around 30 railway industry technology innovation bases.

AI is another major priority, with targets for at least 20 high-quality industry datasets and more than 20 AI application scenarios.

The plan calls for railway-specific AI models to support train dispatching, infrastructure maintenance, passenger services and safety monitoring.

In an interview with China Daily in March, Zhao said AI technologies could identify potential equipment problems earlier by analyzing images captured by cameras along railway tracks.

"AI can help detect abnormalities earlier and allow engineers to respond more quickly," she said.

For passengers, the plan proposes upgrading the 12306 railway ticketing platform into an intelligent service covering entire journeys.

Wang Qiming, spokesman for the National Railway Administration, said at a news conference in July that the railway sector would continue to make passenger services smoother, more convenient and more comfortable.

He said railway authorities would develop more customized train services, expand tourism trains for senior travelers and continue operating public-interest "slow trains" in remote mountainous areas to serve local communities.

The plan also calls for research into integrating drones with high-speed rail to improve last-mile freight delivery.

On freight transport, Wang said the sector would "promote the safe transportation of lithium battery products by rail" and encourage more medium — and long-distance bulk cargo and container shipments to shift from roads to railways.

Compared with the previous five-year railway science and technology innovation plan, the new road map identifies fundamental research and frontier technologies as a separate priority area, according to the administration.

The plan will also be submitted to the office of the Central Science and Technology Commission for filing, marking the first time a railway technology innovation plan has been included in the national science and technology management system, the administration said.