China Daily

China to accelerate developmen­t of railway tech

- By LUO WANGSHU luowangshu@chinadaily.com.cn

China aims to accelerate research and developmen­t of key core technologi­es and applicatio­noriented technologi­cal innovation­s this year, with a focus on developing a faster bullet train capable of traveling at 450 kilometers per hour and intelligen­t high-speed rail technologi­es, said Liu Zhenfang, the president of China State Railway Group, which operates the national railway system.

Liu, who is also a deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress, said the company will continue to promote independen­t research and the industrial applicatio­n of key core technologi­es this year, enhancing self-reliance in railway technology.

“Technologi­cal innovation can foster new industries, new models and new momentum,” he said. “It is the core element for developing new quality productive forces.

“China’s high-speed railways are a successful example of independen­t innovation in our country, and the overall technologi­cal level of China’s railways has entered the forefront of the world.”

The group plans to unveil a more advanced bullet train, the CR450 — with a top operating speed of 400 km/h and an experiment­al speed of up to 450 km/h — by next year.

It plans to complete a prototype this year and begin testing.

Liu said achievemen­ts in promoting self-reliance in railway technology had been made last year.

“In 2023, the alliance to promote science and technology innovation in the railway sector was establishe­d,” he said. “The CR450 science and technology innovation project has achieved major breakthrou­ghs.”

Last year, bullet trains traveled at speeds of 453 km/h on test runs in Fujian province, collecting data on trains running at different speeds on tracks that include tunnels, bridges and curves.

Currently, the fastest bullet trains in China operate at speeds of 350 km/h along several lines, including the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway and the Beijing-Tianjin High-Speed Railway.

A train traveling at 400 km/h would shorten the journey from Beijing to Shanghai to 2.5 hours.

Liu also said China aims to achieve technologi­cal breakthrou­ghs to improve operationa­l safety, enhancing key equipment and infrastruc­ture.

“Research efforts will be increased in the applicatio­n of cutting-edge technologi­es in the field of railways,” he said.

“We’ll focus on promoting the system’s informatiz­ation and network security and enhancing the constructi­on of digital railways. We’ll also carry out the standardiz­ation, interconne­ction and sharing of railway informatio­n systems, aiming to empower the innovative developmen­t of railways through digital intelligen­ce.”

By the end of last year, China’s national railway network extended for 159,000 km, including 45,000 km of high-speed lines. About 80 percent of China’s planned highspeed railway network has been completed, with a further 15 percent under constructi­on.

“China’s overall level of railway infrastruc­ture has reached the forefront globally, providing the foundation and conditions for further advancemen­t toward a higher level of modernizat­ion,” Liu said.

He said China aims to have 165,000 km of track by the end of next year, 50,000 km of which will be high-speed.

According to the national plan, by 2035, the railway network in China will reach 200,000 km, with about 70,000 km of high-speed lines, including some high-speed inter-city railways.

 ?? JIN LIANGKUAI / XINHUA ?? A high-speed train runs above a rape flower field in Nanchang county, Jiangxi province, on March 2.
JIN LIANGKUAI / XINHUA A high-speed train runs above a rape flower field in Nanchang county, Jiangxi province, on March 2.
 ?? ?? Liu Zhenfang
Liu Zhenfang

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