China Moves Forward on Next-Generation High-Speed Rail
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
China has moved to the testing stage for its next-generation high-speed train, the CR450.
Engineers launched a test model from Yichang North Station along the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu high-speed railway, with the train heading toward Wuhan.
Newsweek reached out to China's Ministry of Transport via email for comment.
Why It Matters
China operates the world's most extensive high-speed rail network, with more than 24,855 miles of operational lines, according to a 2023 report from the International Union of Railways. The arrival of the CR450 could further enhance the country's reputation as the world leader in high-speed rail technology, promising faster, safer, and more energy-efficient transportation options. China alone accounts for nearly double the combined length of the rest of the world's high-speed rail systems.
What To Know
Tests on the CR450 model will continue for around two weeks to validate performance and collect data for system optimization.
The CR450 prototype is designed to reach test speeds of up to 450 kilometers per hour (279.6 mph), with an intended operational speed of 400 km/h.
Once launched commercially, it will become the world's fastest high-speed train, surpassing China's current CR400 model, which operates at 350 km/h.
According to the China State Railway Group, the CR450 will feature a 22 percent reduction in overall operational resistance and a 10 percent decrease in weight compared to its predecessors.
The CR450AF bullet train in Beijing on December 29, 2024.
The CR450AF bullet train in Beijing on December 29, 2024.
Xinhua
The prototypes, which were first unveiled last year, are designed with an eight-car formation comprising four powered and four non-powered carriages, according to train manufacturer CRRC.
China's high-speed rail network exceeded 46,000 kilometers by the end of last year. The country added over 3,100 kilometers of new railway in 2024 alone, including 2,457 kilometers of high-speed track, and its overall network now reaches more than 160,000 kilometers.
Although it reached test speeds of 450 km/h, authorities stated that the train's operating speed was 400 km/h.
According to China Daily, the CR450 has a braking response time of about 1.7 seconds.
What People Are Saying
Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, on X, formerly Twitter, in December: "With a test speed of 450 km/h and an operational speed of 400 km/h, it's set to be the fastest high-speed train in the world! Faster, safer, more energy-efficient, more comfortable, and smarter!"
What Happens Next
The CR450 test phase is expected to last approximately two weeks, with commercial operations of the upgraded rail section scheduled to commence in the second half of 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Epoch Times
an hour ago
- Epoch Times
Nvidia Defends Chip Integrity Amid China Cybersecurity Probe: ‘No Back Doors, No Kill Switches'
Nvidia has reiterated that its chips do not have back doors or kill switches, days after being summoned by Chinese authorities over alleged security issues. 'There are no back doors in Nvidia chips. No kill switches. No spyware,' the semiconductor design giant said in a lengthy blog post late Tuesday. 'That's not how trustworthy systems are built—and never will be.'
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
Nvidia warns that any GPU 'kill switch' or 'backdoor' into its AI chips would 'fracture trust in US technology'
Nvidia wants to make it crystal clear how it feels about the idea of AI chip "kill switches" and backdoors. The chip giant said governments should not be allowed to spy on its customers, emphatically arguing against software backdoors into its GPUs, which are used to train and run many of the AI models created by Big Tech companies and startups. "NVIDIA GPUs do not and should not have kill switches and backdoors," Nvidia's chief security officer, David Reber Jr, wrote in a Tuesday blog post titled "No Backdoors. No Kill Switches. No Spyware." Chinese officials expressed concern to Nivida last week about potential "backdoor security risks" in Nivida's H20 chips, which are specifically designed for the Chinese market, and requested a meeting with the company, The New York Times reported. Nvidia said that allowing potential backdoors, or a way for outside parties to access or control the chips without the owner's detection, would make the overall technology more vulnerable and "fracture trust in US technology." Apple has previously strongly opposed the idea of software backdoors, with CEO Tim Cook once calling the idea "the software equivalent of cancer." Apple publicly fought FBI pressure in 2016 to create custom software to help unlock a dead shooter's iPhone and earlier this year pushed back against a"secret order" from the UK government seeking to force the company to grant backdoor access to iCloud user data. Nvidia's chips are a hot commodity in the AI industry, and are used by OpenAI, Meta, and other major companies to train and operate advanced AI language models. "Hardwiring a kill switch into a chip is something entirely different: a permanent flaw beyond user control, and an open invitation for disaster," Nvidia's Reber wrote. "It's like buying a car where the dealership keeps a remote control for the parking brake — just in case they decide you shouldn't be driving. That's not sound policy. It's an overreaction that would irreparably harm America's economic and national security interests." Reber said it isn't accurate to compare some potential monitoring to "Find my iPhone" or similar services. "That comparison doesn't hold water — optional software features, controlled by the user, are not hardware backdoors," he said. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently secured a major win with President Donald Trump, with the company planning to resume shipments of its H20 chips to the Chinese market after receiving what it said were assurances from the Trump administration that the exports would be approved following earlier restrictions. Huang has repeatedly said that if the US wants to win the AI race, it must allow US companies to do business around the world, including in China. Nvidia declined to comment further to Business Insider. Trump's AI plan calls for the government to work with industry partners to "explore leveraging new and existing location verification features on advanced AI compute to ensure that the chips are not in countries of concern." The White House's location tracking recommendation mirrors a bipartisan bill in Congress, the Chip Security Act, which would require the Secretary of Commerce to ensure that certain chips are outfitted with location security mechanisms. Unlike the White House plan, the legislation also allows for additional security safeguards, though any additional measures would only come after a security review. "The Chip Security Act is the best approach to disrupt nefarious actors from gaining access to critical technologies," Rep. Bill Huizenga of Michigan, a Republican and the bill's lead author in the House, said in a statement to BI. "This bipartisan legislation does not require the inclusion of spyware or kill switches—any statements to the contrary are disingenuous." A senior congressional aide working on the bill told Business Insider that the legislation would likely not require Nvidia or other major chip manufacturers to make hardware changes to their chips. "The legislation is focused instead on location verification capabilities, which are already included in the majority of high-end AI chips and would likely require no hardware changes whatsoever," the aide said.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
DraftKings Promo Code: Claim $200 Bonus For MLB, NFL Preseason
Get in on the latest DraftKings promo code offer to get $200 in bonus bets for MLB games this week, plus an NFL Sunday Ticket discount. Get in on the latest DraftKings promo code offer to get $200 in bonus bets for MLB games this week, plus an NFL Sunday Ticket discount. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Now is a great time for new users to take advantage of the updated DraftKings promo code offer. Instantly activate $200 in bonus bets with a $5 wager on any market and also get over $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket for the 2025 season. Just click here and create an account to get started. When you get up and running with the DraftKings promo code offer for Wednesday, you will have plenty of opportunities to activate your bonus bets. There is a full slate of MLB games on Wednesday, and a $5 bet on any of them will give you your $200 in bonus bets. The action starts in the afternoon with games like Giants-Pirates and Orioles-Phillies. Later tonight, the slate wraps up with games like Padres-Diamondbacks and White Sox-Mariners. When you activate your $200 in bonus bets, you will have your reward to take advantage of more MLB games in the coming days, or you could use them to bet on the NFL Preseason games taking place this weekend. The first games are tomorrow night with Colts-Ravens, Bengals-Eagles and Raiders-Seahawks. Start up your account now to get your $200 bonus bets instantly along with a big NFL Sunday Ticket discount. Ways To Activate DraftKings Promo Code Offer DraftKings Promo Code Sign up using links above - no code needed New User Offer Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Instantly + Over $200 Off NFL Sunday Ticket In-App Promos Early Exit, Aces-Valkyries SGP Boost, HR Boosts, Soccer SGP Profit Boost, MLB Parlay Profit Boost, etc. Terms And Conditions New Customers – 21+ in Eligible States Bonus Last Verified On Aug. 6 Information Confirmed By Newsweek You will automatically be able to redeem your NFL Sunday Ticket discount once you have set up your account. The $200 in bonus bets requires a $5 wager on any market across DraftKings Sportsbook. You do not have to worry about winning your $5 bet, and you will receive your bonus bets before that initial wager even settles. As an example, maybe you would like to bet on one of the MLB games. A $5 bet on something like the Padres-Diamondbacks game would work. A simple moneyline bet will activate your offer, but any market will qualify. Maybe you would like to bet on Nestor Cortes to strike out a certain number of batters in his Padres debut. How To Redeem DraftKings Promo Code Create a new account after clicking here to instantly receive this offer. You will be asked to provide basic personal information, like your name, date of birth, mailing address, etc. to confirm your account. The next step is to use a secure payment method, like a credit card, to make an initial deposit to your account. This will cover your initial $5 bet to unlock your bonus bets. You will be able to redeem your NFL Sunday Ticket discount after setting up your account. Your $200 in bonus bets will be valid for seven days after you receive them. Any unused bonus bets will expire after that period of time. DraftKings Sportsbook Wednesday Parlays The DraftKings Sportsbook app presents daily pre-made parlay opportunities. Just scroll to a specific sport or click on a specific game to find the popular options. These markets are available for MLB games every day as well as the NFL Preseason games this weekend. Let's take a look below at some examples for MLB games and the NFL Preseason: Reds, Yankees, Blue Jays, Rays all win (+879) Dodgers -1.5, Rays -1.5, Red Sox -1.5 (+990) Ravens +6, Eagles +6, Seahawks +5.5 (+569) Colts-Ravens over 36.5 points, Bengals-Eagles over 37.5 points, Raiders-Seahawks over 37.5 points (+628) Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
