Amazing China Colorful Jingchu：Global Fastest High-speed Rail Undertakes Test Run in Hubei，with a maximum speed of 450 km/h
美丽中国“荆”彩纷呈：全球最快高铁在湖北试跑，最高时速可达450公里
极目新闻记者 胡祎
翻译：李凯玥 余月 吴术驰（湖北大学）
Reported by Jimu News Reporter: Hu Yi
Translated by Li Kaiyue, Yu Yue, and Wu Shuchi (Hubei University)
6月12日早上，一列标有“CR450”字样的流线型列车从沪渝蓉高铁宜昌北站缓缓驶出，随后列车司机拉动操纵手柄，车轮与钢轨加速摩擦，向武汉方向驶去，这标志着全球最快高铁CR450动车组在湖北开启为期约半个月的型式试验，为列车后续调试提供数据验证。
On the morning of June 12, a sleek CR450 train embarked on its maiden voyage from Yichang North Station on the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu High-speed Railway. As the driver engaged the controls, the wheels accelerated, clattering against the rails as the train surged forward towards Wuhan. This marked the commencement of nearly two weeks of rigorous type tests for the CR450 in Hubei, aimed at gathering crucial data for the train's subsequent fine-tuning and optimization.
这是我国立足长远，研发的新一代复兴号动车组列车。CR是中国铁路“China Railway”的英文缩写，450则代表列车试验速度将达到450公里，商业运营时速400公里。
This is a new generation of CR450 high-speed train developed by China with long-term planning. “CR” stands for “China Railway,” while “450” denotes the train’s remarkable test speed of 450 km/h, with a commercial operation speed set at 400 km/h.
据了解，CR450动车组从2018年开始进行基础理论和关键技术研究，2021年，“CR450科技创新工程”作为国家“十四五”规划确定的重大科研项目实施，开始运行时速400公里CR450动车组研发和高铁基础设施成套技术研究。经过七年攻关，2024年12月29日，CR450动车组样车在北京发布，随即开始准备在正线上开始“试跑”。
The foundational R&D of core technologies for the CR450 began in 2018. In 2021, the “CR450 Technological Innovation Project” was officially launched as a pivotal scientific endeavor under China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, focusing on the development of a CR450 train capable of sustained operation at 400 km/h, along with the necessary supporting infrastructure. After seven years of dedicated effort, two CR450 prototype trains were unveiled in Beijing on December 29, 2024, and preparations for pilot operations are now underway.
这次关键的试跑为何选择在湖北进行？业内人士介绍，这主要是因为沪渝蓉高铁武汉至宜昌段是新建线路，路况条件好，在上面试验既不影响正常的高铁运输，还能实现“新车试新路”，为CR450动车组后续调改提供稳定的数据支撑。
Why was Hubei Province selected for this critical pilot operation? According to industry insiders, the key reason is that the Wuhan–Yichang section of the Shanghai–Chongqing–Chengdu high-speed railway is a newly constructed line with excellent track conditions. Testing on this route ensures minimal disruption to normal high-speed rail services while adhering to the principle of “new trains on new tracks.” This setup provides a stable and controlled environment for collecting essential data to support future adjustments to the CR450 system.
武汉至宜昌段是沪渝蓉高铁全线首个开工的项目，线路东起汉口站，西至宜昌北站，正线全长313公里、设计时速350公里。在此之前，该线路已经进行了为期约一个月的联调联试，内燃机车、时速385公里的黄色动检车陆续上路，为CR450上线试验奠定了基础。
The Wuhan-Yichang section is the first project of the entire Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu High-Speed Railway (Hu-Yu-Rong HSR). Stretching 313 kilometers eastward from Han Kou Station to Yichang North Station, it is designed for operation at 350 km/h. Prior to this phase, the line underwent a month-long joint commissioning and testing process, with diesel locomotives and yellow high-speed comprehensive inspection trains capable of reaching 385 km/h progressively deployed, laying a solid foundation for the CR450's testing.
按照计划，CR450动车组完成性能验证后，还会进行60万公里考核。何时能用于商业运营？“如果试验顺利，最早可能到2026年了。”中国铁道科学研究院集团有限公司首席研究员赵红卫在接受媒体采访时说。
According to the plan, after the completion of performance verification, the CR450 will undergo a 600,000-kilometer endurance assessment. As for its commercial service timeline, Zhao Hongwei, Chief Researcher at China Academy of Railway Sciences Corporation Limited, stated in a media interview: “If the trial tested smoothly, its commercial deployment could potentially commence as early as 2026.”
中国城市经济学会副会长秦尊文认为，都市圈的形成、发展与高铁不断提速有着最为直接的关系。CR450一旦投入商业运营，武汉、襄阳、宜昌三地之间的旅行时间有望压缩至50分钟左右。三大都市圈未来有望形成一个大都市圈，对中部地区乃至更大范围发挥辐射带动作用。
Qin Zunwen, Vice President of the China Society of Urban Economy, asserts that the forming and the development of the metropolitan has the direct correlation with the high-speed rail speed advancements. Once the CR450 is the deployed into the commercial line, the travel time between Wuhan, Xiangyang, and Yichang will be reduced to around 50 minutes. This could facilitate the integration of these three metropolitan clusters into a single metropolitan entity, amplifying their radiating influence and driving effects across central China and beyond.