The Fuxing Hao high-speed train stands as a testament to China's ingenuity, being exclusively developed within its borders. Notably, China retains complete ownership of its intellectual property rights. This cutting-edge train represents a fusion of various domestically engineered technologies, encompassing traction, networking, axletree, and bogie systems. Presently, more than 4,000 Fuxing Hao trains are operational across 32 provinces in China. These trains boast an impressive average speed of 350 kilometers (217 miles) per hour.
Why to Invent Fuxing Hao?
China's initial foray into high-speed train technology involved the importation of key technologies from several countries, including Japan, Canada, France, and Germany, in 2004. Leveraging these imported technologies as a foundation, China developed and introduced its first generation of high-speed trains, known as the Hexie Hao, which commenced operation in 2007.
Indeed, the diverse origins of the technologies imported from various countries resulted in significant disparities, contributing to challenges in manufacturing and maintenance of high-speed trains. These differences in technology standards and specifications heightened production costs and prolonged manufacturing timelines. Additionally, maintenance procedures were complicated by the need to accommodate disparate technologies, further increasing operational expenses and downtime. This scenario underscored the imperative for China to pursue indigenous development of high-speed train technologies, culminating in the creation of the Fuxing Hao series.
Fuxing Hao Train for Beijing Winter Olympic GamesThe Development of Fuxing Hao High-Speed Train
Undoubtedly, monumental undertakings like the development of the Fuxing Hao high-speed train require significant time and effort. The inaugural Fuxing Hao train didn't begin service overnight; rather, it took four years of meticulous planning, design, and construction before its debut. However, since its introduction in 2016, subsequent updated versions of the Fuxing Hao have been continuously rolled out.
Given China's vast expanse and diverse geography, with varying climates and landscapes across different regions, these updated Fuxing Hao trains have been engineered to cater to the unique challenges posed by different natural environments. This ensures that passengers can enjoy smooth and reliable travel experiences, irrespective of the conditions encountered along their journey. Here's the development timetable for the Fuxing Hao:
- 2012, China Railway to pioneer next-gen high-speed train.
- 2014, The designing scheme of the next-gen train completed.
- 2015, First next-gen train undergoes testing at 160 km/h (99 mph).
- July 2016, Testing speed reaches 420 km/h (261 mph), making next-gen train world's fastest high-speed train.
- August 15th, 2016, Next-gen train, labeled G8401, debuted on route from Dalian North station to Shenyang Railway station.
- 2017, Next-gen train officially named 'Fuxing Hao'.
- June 2018, In its first year of operation, Fuxing Hao served 41 million passengers.
- October 2018, CR400, an extended version of Fuxing Hao, began operation, measuring 439.8 meters (1,443 inches), double the length of the original Fuxing Hao.
- 2019, Utilizing the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, the first driverless Fuxing Hao commenced service between Beijing and Zhangjiakou.
- 2021, Fuxing Hao inaugurated service between Lhasa and Nyingchi, marking the world's highest high-speed train route at an altitude of 3,650 meters (3,992 yards).
- 2023, The high-cold region-designed Fuxing Hao commenced service from Harbin to Kiamusze and Tsitsihar, establishing China's northernmost high-speed railway route.
- 2024, CR200J-C, a new variant of Fuxing Hao, entered service for Spring Festival transportation.
Types of Fuxing Hao Trains
There have been 23 types of Fuxing Hao trains developed thus far, categorized into three groups:
- CR400 Group: CR400AF, CR400AF-A, CR400AF-B, CR400AF-C, CR400AF-G, CR400AF-Z, CR400AF-AZ, CR400AF-BZ, CR400BF, CR400BF-A, CR400BF-B, CR400BF-C, CR400BF-G, CR400BF-Z, CR400BF-AZ, CR400BF-BZ, CR400BF-GZ
- CR300 Group: CR300AF, CR300BF
- CR200J Group: FXD1-J, FXD3-J, HXD1D-J, FXN3-J
What are the meanings of these type numbers?
CR is the Abbreviation of China Railway.
For the CR400 Group: The "400" designation indicates a top speed of 400 kilometers (249 miles) per hour, with an average speed of 350 kilometers (217 miles) per hour.
For the CR300 Group: The "300" designation signifies a top speed of 300 kilometers (186 miles) per hour, with an average speed of 250 kilometers (155 miles) per hour.
For the CR200J Group: The "200" designation denotes a top speed of 200 kilometers (124 miles) per hour, with an average speed of 160 kilometers (99 miles) per hour. Other groups of letters signify the types of electric locomotives.
The Meanings of the English Letters in CR400 and CR300 Groups
| English Letters | Signifies |
|---|---|
| A | The train is manufactured by Sifang Automation |
| B | The train is produced by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicle. |
| F | Decentralized power propulsion |
| J | Centralized power propulsion for the train |
| -A | Configuration with 16 carriages |
| -B | Configuration with 17 carriages |
| -C | Intelligent train |
| -Z | This intelligent train type has been mass-produced. |
| -G | The train is designed for operation in high-cold regions. |
As an example, the CR400BF-GZ boasts a top speed of 400 kilometers per hour. Manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, this train is propelled by decentralized power and tailored for high-cold regions. Additionally, it is classified as an intelligent train, having undergone mass production.
Fuxing Hao's Advantages (Compared to Hexie Hao)
Hexie Hao stands as the inaugural generation of Chinese high-speed trains. However, the Fuxing Hao surpasses its predecessor in numerous aspects, marking a significant advancement in Chinese high-speed rail technology.
More Safety Features
In comparison to the Hexie Hao train, the Fuxing Hao boasts 2,500 safety monitoring points, which is 500 more. Various critical components of the train undergo monitoring, including the connecting points between the train wheels and railway, bearing and cooling system temperatures, braking mechanisms, and the carriage environment. These monitoring systems enable a quicker and more efficient identification and resolution of issues that may arise with the train.
In the event of severe malfunctions, the automatic alarm system on the Fuxing Hao is capable of slowing down the speed or halting the train completely. Additionally, the collision avoidance system on the Fuxing Hao surpasses that of the Hexie Hao, further enhancing its safety features.
Longer Designed Lifespan
The Fuxing Hao train boasts a designed lifespan of 30 years, which is notably 10 years longer than that of the Hexie Hao train. With proper maintenance, a Fuxing Hao train can cover an impressive distance of 600,000 kilometers (372,823 miles) before reaching the end of its service life and being decommissioned.
More Space in Carriage
The Fuxing Hao train carriage stands at 4.05 meters (14.8 feet) in height, towering 0.8 meters (2.6 feet) above the Hexie Hao. Additionally, the spacing between rows offers a more generous and comfortable.
Inside a Carriage of a Fuxing Hao TrainLower Air Drag Force
Unlike the Hexie Hao, the Fuxing Hao train features a pantograph collector and air-conditioning system integrated within its air duct system. This eliminates the need for bulky boxes atop the train, reducing air drag significantly. Additionally, the Fuxing Hao's sleeker streamlined design further minimizes air resistance compared to its Hexie counterpart.