CR450: An Innovation in High Speed Railway Technology

By Kate Choi;

The Lawrenceville School, NJ

On October 21st, CR450 set a new record in high speed rail technology with a speed of 450km/h in testing and is now titled the “world’s fastest train.” China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) began developing CR450 in 2021. It is an electric multiple unit (EMU), meaning that it is a self-propelled train made up of carriages that have their own electric motors. It has the capacity of about 552 passengers. Beyond speed, the train is engineered for noise reduction for the sake of passengers’ comfort. With its unique architecture and engineering, the CR450 surpasses the acceleration rate of current CR400 Fuxing trains by 100 seconds. 

The foundational research for this project dates back to 2018, when China began exploring high-speed railway trains and 400 km/h class trains. The CRRC is composed of different divisions, each specialized often by product, function, or location. Two prototypes were unveiled in December 2024: CR450AF and CR450BF. The CR450AF was built by CRRC Qingdao Sifang and the CR450BF was built by CRRC Changchun. Two CR450 trains have set a record by passing each other at a combined speed of 896 km/h, roughly 448km/h each. 

CR450 went through multiple testing phases. Static tests checked the train’s components’ structural integrity and performance before dynamic tests. Then, the train passed low-speed dynamic tests in noise, braking, and traction. The next step was to gradually ramp up to high-speed. As of now, China is the only country to have achieved commercial high-speed rail operation at 400 kilometers per hour. Still, the CR450 is undergoing operational evaluation on the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu high-speed line. According to CCRC, 600,000km of successful operation testing is needed before it is certified for commercial use. It is projected that it will enter commercial service in 2026. 

In terms of its design and engineering, CR450’s distinguished enhanced performance can be attributed to its unique features. In order to increase its speed, one of the main goals was to reduce air resistance. The nose cone was lengthened from about 12.5 m to 15 m, reducing aerodynamic drag and overall resistance by nearly 22%. The bogies, the wheeled structure under a carriage that provides stability, are fully enclosed in the CR450. This deliberate change and the lowered skirts panels—responsible for the streamline airflow and minimizing turbulence around wheels—under the carriages help minimize the wheels’ exposure to air. Furthermore, researchers reduced the train’s overall height by approximately 20 cm to reduce the cross-sectional area, directly related with the drag. Lightweight construction also played a significant role in speeding the train up. With the use of carbon-fiber composites and magnesium alloys, the weight was reduced by about 10% compared to the CR400 series. 

Permanent-magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) are also a big factor in CR450’s success. A synchronous motor operates at a constant speed, synchronized with the power supply. Previous asynchronous motors rely on electric currents brought onto the rotor to create a twisting force that causes rotation. However, PMSMs use permanent magnets on the rotor for a more efficient and higher power density; they are more preferred for high-efficiency applications like robotics or electric vehicles. The PMSMs on the CR450 offered more than 3% better energy conversion efficiency compared to older asynchronous motors. 

As a result, the CR450 surpassed previous high-speed trains in China—most notably the Fuxing Hao, whose maximum speed was 350km/h. The average speed for high-speed railway trains is 200 to 350 km/h. However, as CR450 is being considered for its commercial use, there are larger implications to its advent. 

As much as CR450 aims for speed, it also prioritizes the comfort of passengers. Researchers utilized noise-reduction technologies to make the interior noise levels similar to trains with the speed of 350 km/h. The train also has more interior space by increasing the usable space by about 4%. Despite higher speeds, the braking distance is similar to those of CR400 trains, showing improved stability. Advanced safety monitoring is also built in.

In general, high-speed rail (HSR) systems produce significantly lower CO₂ emissions compared to aviation and automobiles. Due to its energy efficiency, the CR450 has positive implications for the environment because it is predicted to leave a smaller carbon footprint than other forms of transportation or slower trains. Additionally, in the long-term, shifting towards travelling by high-speed rail rather than air or road could reduce emissions overall. 

HSR reduces noise and environmental pollution and offers faster travel times, which for most people, is an important factor and improvement in the quality of life. Still, the construction of new lines requires land acquisition, mitigation for wildlife barriers, and tunneling. Compared with other forms of transport, though, the HSR infrastructure tends to have a smaller total ecological footprint per passenger. As long as its advanced materials are durable, the lower energy costs also mean potentially lower maintenance, ensuring long-term use. 

Modern transport corridors encompass over 90 percent of China’s economy. Implied increases in the use of CR450 for travel also suggests an increased connectivity between major economic hubs, boosting trade and tourism. Overall, as of 2025, China Central Television (CCTV) revealed that they see CR450 as a major advancement towards modern innovation. The project is yet another initiative to modernize China’s transport network. 

Works Cited

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CGTN. (2025, February 23). Prototypes of China’s 450 km/h high-speed train undergo testing. Cgtn.com; CGTN. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-02-23/Prototypes-of-China-s-new-CR450-high-speed-train-undergo-testing-1Be4TQ2JMPK/p.html

China’s Trains: A Comprehensive Guide | WildChina. (2023, November 11). Wildchina.com. https://wildchina.com/2023/11/chinas-trains-a-comprehensive-guide/

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李姿仪. (2024). China’s CR450: A new era of high-speed rail at 400 km/h. Chinadaily.com.cn. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202412/29/WS67714d81a310f1265a1d57d6.html

Weaver, T. (2025, February 26). China puts new 400km/h bullet train through its paces on the track. Engineering and Technology. https://eandt.theiet.org/2025/02/26/china-starts-testing-new-400-km-hour-bullet-train-tracks

Zhe, G. (2025, October 20). CR450: World’s fastest bullet train hits track for trials in China. Cgtn.com; CGTN. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-10-20/CR450-World-s-fastest-bullet-train-hits-track-for-trials-in-China-1HD9dUMDC8M/p.html