China’s next-generation CR450 bullet train has shattered records, reaching a staggering 453 km/h during recent test runs on the Shanghai–Chongqing–Chengdu high-speed railway. Once cleared for commercial use, it is set to become the fastest operating train in the world, surpassing the global standard speed of 350 km/h.
According to CCTV+, the CR450’s planned operational speed of 400 km/h marks a historic leap for China’s transportation sector, as the country continues its push from “Made in China to Created in China.”
The test run represents “the final step for the CR450 to enter the commercial operation phase and will be a milestone symbolizing that the technological prowess of China’s high-speed rail is leaping from ‘Made in China’ to ‘Created in China’,” CCTV stated.
Developed by China State Railway Group and manufactured by subsidiaries of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), the CR450 is currently undergoing 600,000 kilometers of pre-service trials. The project, launched in 2021, is expected to enter commercial service by 2026 following extensive evaluations.
Engineers achieved the record-breaking speed through groundbreaking design and engineering upgrades. The train’s aerodynamics were optimized by extending its nose cone from 12.5 to 15 meters, fully enclosing its bogies, and lowering the overall height by 20 centimeters. These refinements have reduced aerodynamic drag by 22 percent and trimmed the train’s weight by 55 tons, allowing it to accelerate to 350 km/h in just 4 minutes and 40 seconds — a full 100 seconds faster than the previous Fuxing model.
Beyond speed, the CR450 is designed for efficiency and comfort. It uses permanent-magnet traction motors producing 11,000 kW of power, while interior noise levels remain at only 68 decibels even at 400 km/h — quieter than most modern commuter trains.
China’s rapid expansion of its high-speed rail network underscores the nation’s leadership in modern transport technology. The country already operates the world’s largest high-speed rail system, linking over 80 percent of county-level regions and supporting more than 2.4 billion interregional trips annually.
With the CR450, China aims not only to enhance speed and efficiency but to reaffirm its position as a global benchmark in railway innovation.
