Beijing: China has once again stunned the world with its technological prowess in rail engineering. The country’s newly developed CR450 bullet train set a new global record by touching an incredible top speed of 453 kilometers per hour (281 mph) during pre-service testing, solidifying China’s position as the leader in high-speed rail innovation.

The successful trial, conducted on the Shanghai–Chongqing–Chengdu high-speed line, marks a major milestone for China’s rail infrastructure. The CR450, developed by the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), is designed to run at an operational speed of 400 km/h — about 50 km/h faster than its predecessor, the CR400 “Fuxing,” which already ranks among the fastest trains in service anywhere in the world.

According to the State Science and Technology Daily, the train demonstrated exceptional acceleration, sprinting from standstill to 350 km/h in just 4 minutes and 40 seconds — nearly 100 seconds faster than earlier models. Engineers said that during tests, two CR450 units crossed each other at a combined speed of 896 km/h, making it one of the most extraordinary moments in modern rail research.

The CR450 features several cutting-edge design breakthroughs that make its record-breaking performance possible:

• A longer aerodynamic nose cone of 15 meters, reducing drag by nearly 22%.
• Lightweight construction — 55 tons lighter than the CR400 Fuxing model.
• Fully enclosed undercarriage and streamlined bogies for minimal air resistance and noise.
• Energy-efficient materials designed to cut electricity usage by 15% per trip.

These refinements are the result of five years of research and development involving hundreds of Chinese engineers and railway scientists. The train’s design aims to combine speed, stability, and sustainability, aligning with China’s ambition to expand its high-speed rail network to over 60,000 kilometers by the end of the decade.

The CR450 is currently undergoing 600,000 kilometers of test runs before entering passenger service in early 2026. Once operational, it will connect key economic hubs like Shanghai, Wuhan, and Chengdu, cutting travel time on these routes by more than one-third.

Global media outlets have described the CR450 as “the fastest wheeled train on Earth,” surpassing Germany’s ICE and Japan’s Shinkansen benchmarks. While Japan’s L0 magnetic levitation train has achieved even higher test speeds, the CR450’s achievement is remarkable because it uses traditional steel-wheel technology — making it the fastest conventional train in the world.

Commenting on the achievement, a CRRC spokesperson stated, “The CR450 symbolizes the shift from ‘Made in China’ to ‘Created in China.’ It represents a future where China leads in both design and technology in sustainable high-speed travel.”

China’s bullet train network, already the largest globally, operates over 45,000 kilometers of high-speed lines and serves more than 2 billion passengers annually. With the CR450, the nation is poised to redefine the boundaries of land-based transportation, cementing its legacy as the global trailblazer in railway technology.