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 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 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 CR450AF and CR450BF, designed for a maximum operating speed of , are expected to enter service by 2025. In 2023, Chinese state media reported a CR450 train attained a speed of during a test run.
History 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 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 .
On 18 November 2015, the China Standardized EMU hit a speed of and passed the high-speed test on Datong–Xi'an high-speed 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 (relative speed to one another of ) 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 25 June 2017, the official public name of the China Standardized EMU was unveiled as "Fuxing", signaling a departure from the "" (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, operation returned to the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway using Fuxing trains on 21 September 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, wide and high. It has an axle load of less than . 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 and the second class . It also provides Wi-Fi access.
Variants
All variants of Fuxing train are compatible. The EMU models shares the same standard required by the China State Railway Group Company, 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.
The letter "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).
CR450AF
The CR450AF is an 8-car prototype model with operating speed of 400 km/h (248.5 mph).
CR450BF
Similar to the CR450AF, the CR450BF is an 8-car prototype model with operating speed of 400 km/h (248.55 mph)
CR400AF Series
CR400AF The CR400AF is an 8-car standard production model locomotive with a standard maximum speed of . It is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang.
KCIC400AF/AF-CIT Exported to Indonesia, the KCIC400AF and KCIC400AF-CIT are derivatives of the CR400AF manufactured for Jakarta–Bandung high speed line.
CR400AF–A The CR400AF-A is a16-car version of the standard CR400AF locomotive, 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. 77 sets have been manufactured. This model is no longer in production.
CR400AF–B 17-car version of the standard CR400AF manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang. Testing of this locomotive 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. 13 sets were manufactured before this model went out of production. CR400AF–C 8-car ATO enabled version of the standard CR400 locomotive with a redesigned interior and exterior. This locomotive is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang. 3 sets have been manufactured, including one that was later converted into a CR400AF–Z. This model is no longer produced.
CR400AF–G The CR400AF-G is an 8-car sandstorm and cold climate resistant locomotive. This model is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang, who have manufactured 4 sets, including one gauge-changing technology demonstrator. On the gauge-changing set, the gauge-changing bogies were replaced with regular bogies when the train entered service.
CR400AF–Z The CR400AF-Z is an 8-car variant with redesigned and upgraded interior and exterior with its business class arranged in a 1-1 configuration rather than the typical 1-2 configuration. It is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang. This model superseded the CR400AF. 117 sets have been manufactured, excluding the set converted from CR400AF–C.
CR400AF–AZ The 16-car CR400AF-AZ has a 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. This model superseded the CR400AF–A. 5 sets have been manufactured.
CR400AF–BZ Similar to its predecessor model, the CR400AF-AZ, CR400AF-BZ is a 17-car variant with a redesigned and upgraded interior and exterior, with business class featured in a 1-1 configuration instead of the typical 1-2 configuration, and an additional car. It is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang. This model superseded the CR400AF–B. Only 2 sets have been manufactured.
CR400AF–S An upgraded 8-car variant called the CR400AF-S . This variant features interior enhancements to accommodate more passengers. It is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang. This model superseded the CR400AF–Z. 209 sets have been manufactured.
CR400AF–AS An upgraded 16-car variant called the CR400AF-AS . This variant features interior enhancements to accommodate more passengers and a new seating class called Premium First Class, which is intermediate between First Class and Business Class. It is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang. This model superseded the CR400AF–AZ. 32 sets have been manufactured.
CR400AF–BS An upgraded 17-car variant called the CR400AF-BS was introduced in April 2024 for use on the Beijing–Shanghai high speed railway from 15 June 2024. This variant features interior enhancements to accommodate more passengers and a new seating class called Premium First Class, which is intermediate between First Class and Business Class. It is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang. This model superseded the CR400AF–BZ. 5 sets have been manufactured.
CR400AF–AE The CR400AF-AE is a 16-car sleeper variant of the CR with redesigned and upgraded interior and exterior. It only operates on the Beijing West/Shanghai-Hongqiao to Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Sleeper Train Service. CR400AF-AE is manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang. Notably, this is the first sleeper train in the world to be capable of reaching 350 km/h (217.5 mph). 5 sets have been manufactured.
CR400BF Series
CR400BF The CR400BF is a 8-car standard production model CR train with a standard maximum speed of . It is manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles.
CR400BF–A A 16-car version called the CR400BF-A, manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. Testing of this variant started on 9 March 2018. The first CR400BF-A started operation of the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway on 29 June 2018. These sets are and have a passenger capacity of 1,193 people.