Fuxing (train)

History

Development of the Fuxing series began in 2012 as the China Standardized EMU, following earlier high-speed trains known as Hexie (Harmony) that were built through technology transfer from Bombardier Transportation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Alstom. The Hexie trains' patents were largely valid only within China, which hindered export efforts, prompting the creation of a completely redesigned train based on local technology. CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles (now CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles) led the project under the China Railway Corporation, with contributions from enterprises, universities, and research institutes.

The general technical conditions for the EMUs were completed in December 2013, and the design plan was finished in September 2014. The first EMU rolled off the production line on 30 June 2015. On 18 November 2015, the China Standardized EMU reached 385 km/h on the Datong–Xi'an high-speed railway, tested on bridges, in tunnels, and on slopes and turns. On 15 July 2016, two such EMUs passed each other at a relative speed of 840 km/h on the Zhengzhou–Xuzhou high-speed railway.

Variants

The number in the designation indicates the speed class in km/h. The first letter after the speed denotes the manufacturer: A for CRRC Qingdao Sifang, B for CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. The second letter indicates whether the train is self-propelled or locomotive-hauled. For CR400AF and CR400BF series, additional letters denote sub-models: A for 16-car grouping (carriages 8 and 9 are connected), B for 17-car grouping (adding a second-class car for peak periods), and G for operation in harsh conditions including wind, sand, rain, snow, fog, ultraviolet rays, and temperatures as low as –40 °C. Some variants combine two letters, such as GZ for sandstorm and cold resistance plus redesigned interior and exterior.

The CR400AF is an 8-car standard production model with a maximum speed of 420 km/h, built by CRRC Qingdao Sifang. The CR400AF–A is a 16-car version, 415 m long with a capacity of 1,193 passengers; 77 sets were manufactured, and production has ended. The CR400AF–B is a 17-car version, 440 m long with a capacity of 1,283 passengers; 13 sets were built, and production has ended. The CR400AF–C is an 8-car ATO-enabled version with redesigned interior and exterior; 3 sets were built, including one converted to CR400AF–Z, and production has ended.

Upcoming models

The CR450 is a Fuxing train series under development, not yet in commercial operations as of 2023. Its general design was expected to be finalized in 2024, according to Zhao Hongwei, chief researcher of the China Academy of Railway Sciences. The model is produced under the China Railway 450 Technology Innovation Project, part of China's fourteenth five-year plan (2021–2025). Prototypes of the two models, CR450AF and CR450BF, were unveiled in 2024.

The train incorporates nine new independently developed technologies, including carbon ceramic braking, pantograph active control, eddy current braking, and permanent magnet traction systems. Since April 2023, over 60 tests have evaluated its dynamics on tracks, through tunnels, and in train meet scenarios. In June 2023, a CR450 reached 453 km/h on the Meizhou Bay cross-sea bridge, with a relative velocity of 891 km/h when passing another train, setting a world record for fastest closing speed. It is expected to enter service by 2025 with a top operating speed of 400 km/h.

Incidents and equipment issues

On 8 February 2018, train G89 from Beijing West to Chengdu East, serviced by CR400BF-5033, was forced to stop at Xi'an North due to a hot box malfunction; no injuries occurred, and passengers were transferred to a CRH380B set with fewer seats. On 27 June 2018, train G123 from Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao was delayed 49 minutes by an equipment failure from an earlier Hexie CRH380B service. On 12 August 2018, train G40 from Hangzhou East to Beijing South hit a flying steel plate from a nearby construction site near Langfang, damaging the train and overhead catenary; passengers were transferred to buses, and the train was hauled to Beijing South by a Dongfeng 11 diesel locomotive.

On 26 September 2018, a CR400BF-A trainset could not open its doors at Hong Kong West Kowloon because the platform edge exceeded the track's structure gauge; it was redirected to another platform with no injuries. During the National Day holiday (1–7 October 2018), several Fuxing services were immobilized by overcrowding, as the trains' detection devices prevented movement until excess passengers were removed. On 17 October 2018, China Railway Shanghai Group reported using portable air quality devices to monitor fumes from possibly substandard heat-resistant surfaces after complaints of unbearable smells and minor respiratory issues among passengers.

Did You Know?

• Internationally exported versions of the Fuxing operate in Indonesia on the Jakarta–Bandung high-speed railway from 2023, with a derivative of the CR400AF known as the KCIC400AF or 'Komodo Merah'.
• The spacing of seats in Fuxing trains is larger than in Hexie trains, with first class at 1160 mm and second class at 1020 mm, and Wi-Fi access is provided.
• An 8-car Fuxing set has an axle load of less than 17 t and can carry 556 passengers (10 in business class, 28 in first class, and 518 in second class).