Chinese train maker CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles has become a trailblazer in the development for intelligent subway systems and high-speed trains, while making headway in the advancement of sustainable rail transit.
Currently, China's high-speed rail accounts for more than two-thirds of the global total network, with around 40 percent of these trains produced by CRRC Changchun Railway, which is based in Changchun City, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province.
Founded in 1954, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles is famed for pioneering China's subways and high-speed trains. After three years of research and development, the train maker developed a built-in bogie, crucial for the running system of rail vehicles.
"The new built-in bogie moves components like the axle box and frame inside the wheels, making it approximately 20 percent lighter than traditional designs. This change results in a 15-percent reduction in energy usage, 30-percent reduction in wheel-rail wear, and a noise level reduction of about two decibels, promoting eco-friendliness and efficiency," said Liu Zhiyuan, director of the bogie research and development department under the CRRC Changchun Railway Engineering Research Center.
CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles garnered much attention with its hydrogen-powered train, which was launched in March. The train reaches a speed of 160 kilometers per hour and is now a benchmark of sustainable rail transit.
"This hybrid train uses hydrogen fuel cells alongside energy storage batteries, offering a range of 1,000 kilometers and consuming an average of five kilowatt-hours of energy. Its only emission is water, making it clean and environmentally-friendly. Each train can reduce CO2 emissions by about 25,000 tonnes over its life-cycle, equivalent to 10,000 cars over 10,000 kilometers," said Wang Jian, deputy director of the new technology research department under the CRRC Changchun Railway Engineering Research Center.
The company also designed China's new generation high-speed train "Fuxing". The "Fuxing" smart train is the first in the world to operate automatically at 350 kilometers per hour, capable of automatic departures, operations, braking and door control. Passengers can adjust their seats at various angles and even enjoy wireless phone charging during their journey.
Chinese train maker showcases cutting-edge tech for sustainable rail transit
The European Union (EU) and the Netherlands have voiced support for the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court's (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as his former defense minister and a Hamas military commander.
In a statement released on Thursday, the ICC's pre-trial chamber accused Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of committing "crimes against humanity and war crimes" between at least Oct. 8, 2023 and May 20, 2024, the date when the prosecution submitted the arrest warrant applications.
The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Mohammed Deif, the commander of Hamas' military wing, accusing him of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the territories of Israel and Palestine from at least Oct. 7 last year. Israel announced that it killed Deif in a July airstrike in Gaza.
Josep Borrell, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, posted on social media platform X on Thursday that the arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant and Deif are binding on all 124 countries that are states parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC, including all EU member states.
Speaking at a press conference later the same day, Borrell said that the ICC decision is not political but has been made by a court of justice and must be respected as such.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said that the Netherlands supports the warrant and would "100 percent" implement the Rome Statute.
In its Thursday statement, the ICC stated that there are "reasonable grounds" to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant "each bear criminal responsibility as co-perpetrators" for committing war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare, and crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.
The court's statement outlined a series of alleged war crimes, including "intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population," and depriving the "civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity."
Although Deif has reportedly been killed by Israeli forces, the ICC noted that it cannot conclusively confirm his death. Prosecutor Karim Khan informed the court that available information from Israeli and Palestinian sources about his death remains inconclusive, leaving the arrest warrant active.
Both Israel and Hamas denied the ICC's allegations of crimes against humanity.
The arrest warrants mean that if they travel to one of the 124 countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute, they could face arrest.
EU supports ICC’s arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, Hamas leader Deif
