China launches its first self-developed bullet train

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

China today unveiled its next generation bullet train 'Fuxing', which boasts a top speed of 400kmh (248mph).

Fuxing, whose name means 'rejuvenation', is the first bullet train designed and manufactured by Chinese engineers.

Chinese companies spent just 13 years learning to build world-class high-speed trains after acquiring know-how from leading firms in developed countries, such as Japan, France, Germany and Canada.

Fuxing bullet trains are expected to travel between Shanghai and Beijing, which is the busiest railway line in China and serves 505,000 passengers daily.

There are currently two models under the Fuxing series, namely CR400AF and CR400BF.

Both models were unveiled today.



A CR400AF model departed from Beijing South Railway Station at 11:05 am local time for Shanghai. At the same time, a CR400BF model left Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station for Beijing.

According to People's Daily Online, the new bullet trains, also known as electric multiple units (EMU), travelled up to 400kmh during experiment.

In daily operation, they would run at a consistent speed of 350kmh (217mph), which means it would take the train three and a half hours to travel between Shanghai and Beijing, or an hour and 20 minutes between London and Paris.

Currently, the travel time between Shanghai and Beijing is around five hours by train. China's high-speed railway network measures 22,000 kilometers (13,670 miles), which is about 60 per cent of the world's total.

 

[Vario]

Probably to be pronounced fu shing

What a beautiful train.

 

[Sasqui]

That's Fuxing fast!

You'd be fuxed.

What's sad is how the US was the leader in bullet train technology back in the 70's and here we are stuck with a heavily subsidized POS called Amtrak and the Chinese are wayyy ahead of us. None of the US states can agree on anything to do with rail, that's part of the problem.

Hey @Aquinus - you're from Concord NH?

 

[rtwjunkie]

here we are stuck with a heavily subsidized POS called Amtrak and the Chinese are wayyy ahead of us. None of the US states can agree on anything to do with rail, that's part of the problem.

Notice how many derailments happen in the U.S., and how safe European and Japan rail travel is? Until we are serious about maintaining our track system, we can't even think about super-high speed trains again. Sad.

 

[Aquinus]

Hey @Aquinus - you're from Concord NH?

I actually grew up in Exeter. I currently live in Concord but, I went to school in Plymouth for a few years and lived in Dover for a couple years before ending up in Concord. I'm actually stopping to chill with a co-worker in Manchester tomorrow.