China's CR450 high-speed train marks breakthrough in commercial speed trial

China

China's CR450 high-speed train marks breakthrough in commercial speed trial

2024-12-29 16:57 Last Updated At：22:27

China's newly-unveiled CR450 bullet train, with a top speed of 450 kilometers per hour (kph) and a commercial operating speed of 400 kph, is set to mark a milestone in the speed of commercial operation of high-speed railways, promising faster, safer and more energy-efficient journeys.

A prototype of the CR450 bullet train that will run at 400 kph debuted in Beijing on Sunday, said the country's railway operator China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

The train is capable of running at 450 kilometers per hour in test.

Since 2018, China has been researching the foundational theories and key technologies for high-speed rail operating at 400 kph.

After seven years of development, the CR450 prototype was launched, marking a significant milestone as the country completes its exploration into commercial operations at an unprecedented speed.

In 2021, the CR450 technological innovation project was officially launched, focusing on the development of the 400-kph CR450 train and integrated high-speed rail infrastructure technologies.

By 2022, the CR450's technical specifications were finalized and rigorous tests and simulations were conducted.

In 2022 and 2023, new components were tested on the CR450 train on the Mile-Mengzi and Fuzhou-Xiamen-Zhangzhou high-speed railways to verify key technologies and component performance.

In 2024, production of the CR450 prototype began, incorporating smart manufacturing techniques and robust quality control to ensure the smooth rollout of the first train.

"The CR450 train is a new generation of trains developed to strengthen and expand China's leadership in high-speed rail technology. It features a higher speed, enhanced safety, greater energy efficiency, smarter operation and improved passenger comfort," said Zhao Hongwei, chief researcher of the China Academy of Railway Sciences.

The CR450's key performance indicators, namely operating speed, energy consumption, interior noise and braking distance, are setting a new international benchmark.

The train is 22 percent more energy-efficient, with a 10-percent reduction in weight and a 2-decibel reduction in cabin noise.

Passenger service space has increased by 4 percent and intelligent features, including advanced train control, driver interaction, safety monitoring and passenger services, have been upgraded.

"Next, we will meticulously organize and schedule a series of tests and assessments in multiple scenarios and at various speed levels to further evaluate the CR450's performance and accelerate its readiness for commercial operation," said Zhang Dayong, director of the Science and Information Technology Department of China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

China's vegetable markets well prepared for festive season with ample supply

2024-12-31 22:21 Last Updated At：23:27

As the New Year and the Chinese Spring Festival draw near, vegetable markets across China enter the peak season with stable and sufficient supplies, well-prepared to meet the surging demand during the festive season.

In 2024, China's vegetable production continues to grow steadily. The sown area has expanded by over 800,000 mu (about 53,333 hectares) compared to the previous year, reaching more than 83 million mu. In mid-December, vegetable production exceeded 20 million tons, ensuring ample supply across the country. Choy sum, or Chinese flowering cabbage, is currently in its peak sales season in southern production areas.

Li Yuxiu oversees the operation of a family farm in Zhijiang City in central China's Hubei Province. His farm has a good harvest of choy sum.

"One mu of land yields about 1,500 kg of choy sum, both white and purple. We plant them at different time to ensure harvests in different months," said Li.

Buyers across the country are eagerly sourcing these fresh vegetables for vigorous markets. Tang Yan, who manages a fruit-and-vegetable cooperative in Hubei Province, expressed satisfactory over the pricing and sales of choy sum.

"I buy about 2,000 kg of purple choy sum every day from the farmers. The price is a little bit over six yuan (about 0.82 U.S. dollars) per kilogram. It was higher earlier, about eight to ten yuan. Farmers are happy about the pricing. We don't need to worry about sales as buyers from all over the country wait for goods here every day," said Tang.

In addition to open-field vegetables, vegetable greenhouses also report good yields and are filling up markets with their produce.

Pak choi, or leafy Chinese cabbage, is widely planted in a greenhouse in east China's Jiangsu Province.

"We have 130 mu of vegetable greenhouses here, all growing pak choi. Each crop yields 3,000 kg per mu," said Tang Yongjun, operator of the greenhouse.

On the market side, the sources of goods are being continuously expanded, especially for vegetables from Guangzhou, Yunnan, Fujian and other southern places, which all have sufficient stock.

Wang Ruixian is a merchant at the Shouheng Gaobeidian market in north China's Hebei Province, one of China's largest agricultural wholesale hubs. She has explored new origins of vegetables to ensure consistent supply. "This year, I have expanded my vegetable sources to Honghe and Xundian County in Yunnan Province. I also added special vegetables from Sichuan Province to my list. We can supply more than 200 tons today, over 50 tons above our daily supply volume of previous years," said Wang.