China Railway High-speed - CRH Rolling Stock

CRH Rolling Stock

China Railway High-speed runs different electric multiple unit trainsets, the designs for which are imported from other nations and designated CRH-1 through CRH-5. CRH trainsets are intended to provide fast and convenient travel between cities. Some of the trainsets are manufactured locally through technology transfer, a key requirement for China. The signalling, track and support structures, control software, and station design are developed domestically with foreign elements as well, so the system as a whole is predominantly Chinese. China currently holds many new patents related to the internal components of these trains, re-designed in China to allow the trains to run at higher speeds than the foreign designs allowed.

The trainsets are as follows:

  • CRH1 produced by Bombardier Transportation's joint venture Sifang Power (Qingdao) Transportation (BST), CRH1A, and CRH1B, nicknamed "Metro" or "Bread", derived from Bombardier's Regina; CRH1E, nickname "Lizard", is Bombardier's ZEFIRO 250 design
    • CRH1A; sets consists of 8 cars; maximum operating speed of 250 km/h
    • CRH1B; a modified 16-car version; maximum operating speed of 250 km/h
    • CRH1E; is a 16-car high-speed sleeper version; maximum operating speed of 250 km/h
  • CRH2; nickname "Hairtail", derived from E2 Series 1000 Shinkansen
    • CRH2A; In 2006, China unveiled CRH2, a modified version of the Japanese Shinkansen E2-1000 series. An order for 60 8-car sets had been placed in 2004, with the first few built in Japan, the rest produced by Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock in China.
    • CRH2B; a modified 16-car version of CRH2; maximum operating speed of 250 km/h
    • CRH2C (Stage one); a modified version of CRH2 with a maximum operating speed up to 300 km/h as a result of replacing two intermediate trailer cars with motored cars
    • CRH2C (Stage two); a modified version of CRH2C (stage one version) has a maximum operating speed up to 350 km/h by using more powerful motors
    • CRH2E; a modified 16-car version of CRH2 with sleeping cars
  • CRH3C; nickname "Rabbit", derived from Siemens ICE3 (class 403); 8-car sets; maximum operating speed of 350 km/h
  • CRH5A, derived from Alstom Pendolino ETR600; 8-car sets; maximum operating speed of 250 km/h
  • CRH6; Designed by CSR Puzhen and CSR Sifang, will be manufactured by CSR Jiangmen. It is designed to have two versions: a top operating speed of 220 km/h version and top operating speed of 160 km/h version. They will be used at 200 km/h or 250 km/h Inter-city High Speed Rail lines; planned to enter service by 2011
  • CRH380A; Maximum operating speed of 380 km/h. Manufactured by Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock; entered service in 2010
    • CRH380A; 8-car version
    • CRH380AL; 16-car version
  • CRH380B; upgraded version of CRH3; maximum operating speed of 380 km/h, manufactured by Tangshan Railway Vehicle and Changchun Railway Vehicles; entered service in 2011
    • CRH380B; 8-car version
    • CRH380BL; 16-car version
  • CRH380CL; designed and manufactured by Changchun Railway Vehicles. Maximum operating speed of 380 km/h; planned to enter service in 2012
  • CRH380D; also named Zefiro 380; maximum operating speed of 380 km/h, manufactured by Bombardier Sifang (Qingdao) Transportation Ltd.; planned to enter service in 2012
    • CRH380D; 8-car version
    • CRH380DL; 16-car version (Cancelled in place of additional CRH1A and Zefiro 250NG sets)

CRH1A, B,E, CRH2A, B,E, and CRH5A are designed for a maximum operating speed (MOR) of 200 km/h and can reach up to 250 km/h. CRH3C and CRH2C designs have an MOR of 300 km/h, and can reach up to 350 km/h, with a top testing speed more than 380 km/h. However, in practical terms, issues such as maintenance costs, comfort, and safety make the maximum speed of more than 380 km/h impractical and remain limiting factors.

Equipment type Top speed in test Designed speed Seating capacity Formation Power
(under 25 kV)
Enter Service
CRH1A 278 km/h (173 mph) 250 668 or 611 or 645 5M3T 5,300 kW 2007
CRH1B 292 km/h (181 mph) 250 1299 10M6T 11,000 kW 2009
CRH1E 250 618 or 642 10M6T 11,000 kW 2009
CRH2A 282 km/h (175 mph) 250 610 or 588 4M4T 4,800 kW 2007
CRH2B 275 km/h (171 mph) 250 1230 8M8T 9,600 kW 2008
CRH2C Stage 1 394.2 km/h (244.9 mph) 300 610 6M2T 7,200 kW 2008
CRH2C Stage 2 350 610 6M2T 8,760 kW 2010
CRH2E 250 630 8M8T 9,600 kW 2008
CRH3C 394.3 km/h (245.0 mph) 350 600 or 556 4M4T 8,800 kW 2008
CRH5A 250 622 or 586 or 570 5M3T 5,500 kW 2007
CRH380A 416.6 km/h (258.9 mph) 380 494 6M2T 9,600 kW 2010
CRH380AL 486.1 km/h (302.0 mph) 380 1027 14M2T 20,440 kW 2010
CRH380B 380 unknown 4M4T 9,200 kW 2011 (plan)
CRH380BL 487.3 km/h (302.8 mph) 380 1004 8M8T 18,400 kW 2010
CRH380CL 380 8M8T 19,200 kW 2012 (plan)
CRH380D 380 495 4M4T 10,000 kW 2012 (plan)
CRH380DL 380 1013 8M8T 20,000 kW Canceled (2012 original plan)
CRH6 220 586 4M4T unknown 2011 (plan)

Read more about this topic:  China Railway High-speed

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