Fuxing (train)

Fuxing, also known as the CR series EMU (or as the Fuxing Hao), is a series of high-speed and higher-speed EMU trains operated by China Railway High-speed (CRH) and developed by CRRC. They are the first successful high-speed trains to be fully designed and manufactured in China.

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 "Red Dragon" (CR400AF) and "Golden Phoenix" (CR400BF) for certain units. It is among the world's fastest conventional high-speed trains in regular service, with an operating speed of 350 km/h for the CR400AF and CR400BF models.

Internationally exported versions of the train sets also operate in Indonesia on the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway from 2023, with a derivative version of the CR400AF, also known as the KCIC400AF or "Komodo Merah" (literally: red komodo dragon) or "Petir Merah" (literally: red lightning).

The upcoming CR450, designed for a maximum operating speed of 400 km/h, is expected to enter service by 2025. In 2023, Chinese state media reported a CR450 train attained a speed of 453 km/h during a test run.

Background
In 2004, China's Ministry of Railways contracted Bombardier Transportation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Alstom to supply  the first high-speed trains for China, which later known as Hexie, with Chinese partners CNR and CSR. The four foreign companies agreed to manufacture high-speed trains for China as well as provide technology transfer for local production.

Some of the Hexie (Harmony) 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 (Harmony's) patents are only valid within China, and as such hold no international power. The weakness of intellectual property of Hexie caused 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 (now CRRC 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 600000 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 (relative speed to one another of 840 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 and 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 was unveiled as "Fuxing", signaling a departure from the "和谐号" (Harmony) branding of the 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 209 m long, 3.36 m wide and 4.06 m high. It has an axle load of less than 17 t. 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 older EMUs.

The spacing of seats of Fuxing (Rejuvenation) is larger than Hexie (Harmony), 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. Fuxing train models can be identified by the designation. The number in the designation represents the speed class in kilometers per hour. The first letter after speed is the manufacturer code, with A being the CRRC Qingdao Sifang and B being the CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. The second letter after the speed represents whether the train set is powered by self-propelled multiple units or locomotives.

For CR400AF and CR400BF series EMUs, there may also be a letter as a sub-model.

A represents the 16-car grouping. Compared with the ordinary standard type, carriages 8 and 9 are designed to be connected. B represents the 17-car grouping. Compared with the 16-car grouping, one second-class car is added to increase the passenger flow capacity during peak periods. G stands for those that can operate in harsh conditions. Although the overall data and structure are the same as the ordinary standard type, it has the added ability to withstand wind, sand, rain, snow, fog, ultraviolet rays and other severe weather. It can drive in low-temperature environments of –40 °C. Some variants have two letters indicating combined configuration, such as type GZ being the train set featuring sandstorm and cold resistant capability (type G) and redesigned interior and exterior (type Z).


 * CR400AF: 8-car standard production model with standard maximum speed of 420 km/h. It is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang.
 * KCIC400AF/AF-CIT
 * Exported to Indonesia a derivative of the CR400AF for Jakarta-Bandung high speed line.
 * 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 415 m long and have a passenger capacity of 1,193 passengers.
 * 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 415 m long and have a passenger capacity of 1,193 passengers.
 * 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 415 m long and have a passenger capacity of 1,193 passengers.
 * 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 415 m 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 440 m and have a passenger capacity of 1,283 people.
 * CR400AF–C: 8-car ATO enabled version with redesigned interior and exterior. It is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang.


 * CR400AF–G: 8-car sandstorm and cold climate resistant version. It is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang.


 * CR400AF–Z: 8-car variant with redesigned and upgraded interior and exterior with business class featured in a 1-1 configuration instead of the typical 1-2 configuration. It is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang.


 * CR400AF–BZ: 17-car variant with redesigned and upgraded interior and exterior, with business class featured in a 1-1 configuration instead of the typical 1-2 configuration. It is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang.


 * CR400AF–GZ: 8-car sandstorm/cold resistant with redesigned and upgraded interior and exterior. It is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang.
 * CR400BF: 8-car standard production model with standard maximum speed of 420 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-A started operation of the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway on June 29, 2018. These sets are 415 m and have a passenger capacity of 1,193 people.


 * CR400BF–B: 17-car version. It is manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles.


 * CR400BF–C: 8-car ATO enabled version with redesigned interior and exterior used on the Beijing–Zhangjiakou intercity railway in preparation for the 2022 Winter Olympics. It is manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. 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 sandstorm and cold climate resistant version for use in more extreme weather. It is manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. Shares same exterior style as the CR400BF.


 * CR400BF–Z: 8-car variant with redesigned and upgraded interior and exterior with business class featured in a 1-1 configuration instead of the typical 1-2 configuration, with sliding doors. It is manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles.


 * CR400BF–BZ: 17-car variant with redesigned and upgraded interior and exterior with business class featured in a 1-1 configuration instead of the typical 1-2 configuration, with sliding doors. It is manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles.


 * CR400BF–GZ: 8-car sandstorm/cold resistant version with redesigned interior and exterior. It is manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles.


 * CR300AF: Introduced in 2018, with 300 km/h (Record) speed and a service speed of 250 km/h. It is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang.


 * CR300BF: Introduced in 2018, with standard maximum speed of 300 km/h, running at a speed of 250 km/h. It is manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles.


 * CR200J:Introduced in 2019, this 210 km/h record higher-speed version and a service speed of 160 km/h is designed by CRRC Nanjing Puzhen, CRRC Qingdao Sifang, CRRC Tangshan, CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive, CRRC Datong and CRRC Dalian.

Upcoming Models
The CR450 is a Fuxing train series currently under development. As of 2023, it has not yet been put into commercial operations but according to Zhao Hongwei, chief researcher of the China Academy of Railway Sciences, the train's general design is expected to be finalized in 2024. The model is being produced from the China Railway 450 Technology Innovation Project, that was started by Beijing with the purpose to develop the next generation of high-speed trains, and part of China's fourteenth five-year plan between 2021 and 2025.

The train encompasses nine new independently developed technologies that includes carbon ceramic braking, pantograph active control, eddy current braking, and permanent magnet traction systems. Since April 2023, the new model has undertaken over 60 tests to evaluate its dynamics when running on tracks and going though tunnels, and as well as train meet scenarios, where two trains pass each other while moving in opposite directions. In June 2023, a CR450 sped at 453 km/h during a test run that travels through the Meizhou Bay cross-sea bridge, and its relative velocity had reached 891 km/h, which set a new world record for the fastest closing speed among two trains passing each other.

It is expected to enter service by 2025 with a top operating speed of 400 km/h, surpassing the current fastest operating speeds of other high-speed trains in China, and additionally exceeding the current maximum operating speeds for high-speed trains in Japan and France that are limited to go up to 320 km/h.

Incidents and equipment issues

 * On 8 February 2018, a train no. G89 from Beijing West railway station to Chengdu East railway station, serviced by CR400BF-5033 (with 576 seats), was forced to discontinue its journey at Xi'an North railway station, due to a mechanical malfunction (hot box). No passengers were injured. Passengers were then transferred to a CRH380B train set 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 (October 1–7, 2018), various services of Fuxing were forced to stop at intermediate stations along their routes, as they had 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.
 * On October 14, 2019, a train bound for Kaihua Station had smoke present in the machinery room of its rear locomotive. Upon discovering this, the driver immediately disconnected the main circuit breaker and took measures to slow down. Later, while running, the rear locomotive suddenly broke down in smoke, and was promptly stopped for treatment. The locomotive failure and fire were then dealt with without causing any casualties. The train later arrived at its destination, 201 minutes later than planned. The locomotive involved in the accident was newly built in December 2018, and had traveled 131,498 kilometers at the time of the accident. The specific cause of the fire was a loose wire contacting with the main control panel cabinet, causing the control panel to short circuit and catch fire. Yongji Motor later paid 80 million Yuan in compensation to the China State Railway Group.