Fuxing (train)
Fuxing is a series of high-speed and higher-speed EMU trains operated by China Railway High-speed and developed by CRRC, which owns the independent intellectual property rights. Initially known as the China Standardized EMU, development on the project started in 2012, and the design plan was finished in September 2014. The first EMU rolled off the production line on 30 June 2015. The series received its current designation of Fuxing in June 2017, with nicknames such as "Blue/Red Dolphin" and "Golden Phoenix" for certain units. It is the world's fastest conventional high speed train in regular service, with a standard speed of for the CR400AF and CR400BF models.
History
Background
In 2007, China's Ministry of Railways drafted a plan for China's future high-speed network. Bombardier Transportation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Alstom and later Siemens joined the high-speed train manufacture project later known as Hexie. Forming a joint-venture with Chinese company CNR and CSR, four foreign companies signed an agreement with China to manufacture high-speed trains for China as well as provide assistance to a Chinese company to manufacture train cars locally in the future.Some of the Hexie train sets 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 additional foreign elements. By 2010, the track system as a whole was 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.
However, most of Hexie's patents are only valid within China, and as such hold no international power. The weakness of intellectual property of Hexie causes obstacles for China to export its high-speed rail related technology, which led to the development of the completely redesigned train brand called Fuxing that is based on local technology.
Development
Started in 2012, CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles, under the guidance of China Railway Corporation, with a collection of enterprises, universities, and research institutes, carried out the development of a more advanced China Standardized EMU. In December 2013, CRRC Changchun completed developing the general technical conditions for EMUs, and completed the plan design in September 2014. The new EMU was rolled off the production line on 30 June 2015.According to the arrangement for the China Standardized EMU research and development work, the EMUs will receive 600,000-km experimental verification and optimization. They started to experimental work at National Railway Test Center of China Academy of Railway in Beijing after they rolled off, and they were tested at up to 160 km/h.
On 18 November 2015, the China Standardized EMU hit a speed of 385 km/h and passed the high speed test on Datong–Xi'an Passenger Railway. The EMU was tested under complicated conditions, including on bridges, in tunnels, and on slopes and turns.
On 15 July 2016, the two China Standardized EMUs in opposite directions passed each other at 420 km/h during test runs on Zhengzhou–Xuzhou high-speed railway.
Commercialization
On 15 August 2016, the China Standardized EMU has started operation on Harbin–Dalian High-Speed Railway. The train was running as Train No. G8041 departed from Dalian North railway station to Shenyang railway station.From the end of 2016 to the beginning of 2017, several subsidiaries of CRRC gained licences from the National Railway Administration to produce the rolling stocks.
The China Standardized EMU started its experimental long haul service on Beijing–Hong Kong High-Speed Railway on 25 February 2017.
On June 25, 2017, the official public name of the China Standardized EMU is unveiled as "Fuxing". Signaling a departure from the "和谐号" branding of previous high speed trains.The next day, a CR400AF departed on its maiden journey from the Beijing South railway station, traveling toward Shanghai, at the same time a CR400BF left Shanghai Hongqiao railway station on its maiden journey bound for Beijing.
After extensive testing since its debut, 350 km/h operation returned to the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway using Fuxing trains on September 21, 2017, once again making the Chinese high speed railway network the fastest in the world.
Specifications and technical features
An 8-car Fuxing set is long, 3360mm wide and 4060mm high. It has an axleload of less than 17 tonnes. The train can carry 556 passengers, with 10 in business class, 28 in first class, and 518 in second class. The train also reduces energy consumption, and adopts a standard parts design. It also has reinforced safety features compared with other EMUs.The spacing of seats of Fuxing is larger than Hexie, with the first class at 1160 mm and the second class 1020 mm. It also provides Wi-Fi access.
Variants
All variants of Fuxing train are compatible. The EMU models shares the same standard required by China Railway Corporation, hence the name China Standardized EMU.as G6
;CR400AF:One of two initial production models with standard maximum speed of 400 km/h. It is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang.
;CR400AF–A:16-car version manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang. The first CR400AF-A started operation in July 2018 on the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway. These sets are long and have a passenger capacity of 1,193 passengers.
;CR400AF–B:17-car version manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang. Testing started in 2018 and entered passenger service in 2019 in response to high passenger demand on the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway. These sets are and have a passenger capacity of 1,283 people.
;CR400BF:One of two initial production models with standard maximum speed of 400 km/h. It is manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles.
;CR400BF–A:16-car version manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. Testing of this variant started on March 9, 2018. The first CR400BF-B started operation of the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway on June 29, 2018. These sets are and have a passenger capacity of 1,193 people.
;CR400BF–B:17-car version. It is manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles.
;CR400BF–C:An 8-car ATO enabled version with redesigned interior and exterior used on the Beijing–Zhangjiakou intercity railway in preparation for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The interior design incorporates snow and ice elements with blue ambient light. The train is also equipped with high-definition LED destination displays, wireless charging for business class seats, and smart glass windows. Additional features include snowboard storage and urine sampling areas. The trains are manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. CR400BF–C started operating on December 30, 2019, with the opening of the Beijing–Zhangjiakou ICR.
;CR400BF–G:8-car cold resistant version manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. Shares same exterior style as the CR400BF.
;CR200J:Introduced in 2019, this 200 km/h higher-speed version is designed by CRRC Nanjing Puzhen, CRRC Qingdao Sifang, CRRC Tangshan, CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive, CRRC Datong and CRRC Dalian.
;CR300AF: Introduced in 2018, Prototype model with standard maximum speed of 300 km/h. It is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang.
;CR300BF:Introduced in 2018, Prototype model with standard maximum speed of 300 km/h. It is manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles.
Train type | Car dimensions | Total length | Top speed | Seating capacity | Formation | Power output | Entry into Service |
CR400AF/AF–A/AF–B | CR400AF/AF–A/AF–B | CR400AF/AF–A/AF–B | CR400AF/AF–A/AF–B | CR400AF/AF–A/AF–B | CR400AF/AF–A/AF–B | CR400AF/AF–A/AF–B | CR400AF/AF–A/AF–B |
CR400AF | End cars length: Inter cars length: Width: Height: | Calculated: Real: | Test: Design: Continuous operation: Current operation: | 556: 10 business, 28 first and 518 standard 576: 10 business, 28 first and 538 standard 392: 10 business, 24 first and 358 standard | 4M4T | August 15, 2016 | |
CR400AF–A | End cars length: Inter cars length: Width: Height: | Calculated: Real: | Test: Design: Continuous operation: Current operation: | 1193: 22 business, 148 first and 1023 standard | 8M8T | June 16, 2018 | |
CR400AF–B | End cars length: Inter cars length: Width: Height: | Calculated: Real: | Test: Design: Continuous operation: Current operation: | 1283: 22 business, 148 first and 1113 standard | 8M9T | January 5, 2019 | |
CR400BF/BF–A/BF–B/BF–C/BF–E/BF–G | CR400BF/BF–A/BF–B/BF–C/BF–E/BF–G | CR400BF/BF–A/BF–B/BF–C/BF–E/BF–G | CR400BF/BF–A/BF–B/BF–C/BF–E/BF–G | CR400BF/BF–A/BF–B/BF–C/BF–E/BF–G | CR400BF/BF–A/BF–B/BF–C/BF–E/BF–G | CR400BF/BF–A/BF–B/BF–C/BF–E/BF–G | CR400BF/BF–A/BF–B/BF–C/BF–E/BF–G |
CR400BF | End cars length: Inter cars length: Width: Height: | Calculated: Real: | Test: Design: Continuous operation: Current operation: | 556: 10 business, 28 first and 518 standard 576: 10 business, 28 first and 538 standard | 4M4T | August 15, 2016 | |
CR400BF–C | End cars length: Inter cars length: Width: Height: | Calculated: Real: | Test: Design: Continuous operation: Current operation: | 576: 10 business, 28 first and 538 standard 541: 10 business, 28 first and 503 standard | 4M4T | December 30, 2019 | |
CR400BF–G | End cars length: Inter cars length: Width: Height: | Calculated: Real: | Test: Design: Continuous operation: Current operation: | 576: 10 business, 28 first and 538 standard | 4M4T | June 9, 2019 | |
CR400BF–A | End cars length: Inter cars length: Width: Height: | Calculated: Real: | Test: Design: Continuous operation: Current operation: | 1193: 22 business, 148 first and 1023 standard | 8M8T | June 12, 2018 | |
CR400BF–E | End cars length: Inter cars length: Width: Height: | Calculated: Real: | Test: Design: Continuous operation: Current operation: | 880: 880 soft sleepers | 8M8T | Under testing | |
CR400BF–B | End cars length: Inter cars length: Width: Height: | Calculated: Real: | Test: Design: Continuous operation: Current operation: | 1283: 22 business, 148 first and 1113 standard | 8M9T | January 5, 2019 | |
CR200J | CR200J | CR200J | CR200J | CR200J | CR200J | CR200J | CR200J |
CR200J | Power cars length: Inter cars length: Control car length: Width: Height: | Calculated: Real: | Test: N/A Design: Continuous operation: Current operation: | 690: 690 standard | 1M7T1Tc | TBD | January ?, 2019 |
CR200J | Power cars length: Inter cars length: Control car length: Width: Height: | Calculated: Real: | Test: N/A Design: Continuous operation: Current operation: | 918: 242 standard seats, 280 first class sleepers and 396 second class sleepers | 2M16T | TBD | January ?, 2019 |
Incidents and equipment issues
- On 8 February 2018, a train numbered G89 from Beijing West railway station to Chengdu East railway station, serviced by CR400BF-5033, was forced to discontinue its journey at Xi'an North railway station, due to a mechanical malfunction. No passengers were injured. Passengers were then transferred to a CRH380B trainset with only 556 seats.
- On 27 June 2018, train no. G123 from Beijing South railway station to Shanghai Hongqiao railway station was late by 49 minutes, as it sustained an equipment failure due to an earlier service G239 which is provided by Hexie type CRH380B EMU.
- On 12 August 2018, train no. G40 from Hangzhou East railway station to Beijing South railway station collided with a flying steel plate, which was blown away from a nearby construction site close to Langfang railway station. The flying steel plates not only damaged the train itself, but caused serious traffic disruptions on the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway as the overhead catenary also sustained damages. Passengers were transferred to buses, while the damaged train was hauled to Beijing South railway station by a Dongfeng 11 diesel locomotive.
- On 26 September 2018 an inbound CR400BF-A trainset was unable to properly open its doors at Hong Kong West Kowloon railway station, as the platform edge reached beyond the track's structure gauge. The vehicle was redirected to a different platform. No injuries were reported.
- During the one week holiday of the National Day of the People's Republic of China, various services of Fuxing were forced to stop at intermediate stations along their routes, as they have been immobilized by the crowd of passengers, causing traffic disruptions. Unlike Hexie, Fuxing trains are equipped with devices that are capable of detecting certain levels of overcrowding, preventing them from any further movement to ensure safety until train staff manage to remove the necessary number of passengers.
- On 17 October 2018, China Railway Shanghai Group reported that it has implemented portable air quality measurement devices to monitor the level of hazardous fumes emitted by possibly substandard heat resistant surfaces in the passenger carriages as several complaints have been recorded by passengers and train drivers, stating the smell in the carriages is unbearable. Some passengers also suffered minor respiratory diseases such as coughing and sore throat.
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