In service 2010 - Present | Manufacturer CSR Qingdao Sifang | |
 | ||
Number under construction CRH380A: 49 trainsets (392 cars)
CRH380A (EC Type): 121 trainsets (968 cars)
CRH380AL: 100 trainsets (1600 cars) Formation CRH380A / CRH380A (EC Type): 8 cars/trainset (6M2T)
CRH380AL: 16 cars/trainset (14M2T) Capacity CRH380A: 480
CRH380A (EC Type): 556
CRH380AL: 1061 or 1028 Operator(s) Chinese Ministry of Railways
- Beijing Railway Bureau
- Taiyuan Railway Bureau
- Guangzhou Railway Bureau
- Wuhan Railway Bureau
- Shanghai Railway Bureau
- Zhengzhou Railway Bureau
- Jinan Railway Bureau
- Nanchang Railway Bureau
- Nanning Railway Bureau
MTRC | ||
The CRH380A is a Chinese electric high-speed train that was developed by CSR Corporation Limited (CSR) and is currently manufactured by CSR Qingdao Sifang Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co., Ltd. As a continuation of the CRH2-350 program it both replaces foreign technology in the CRH2 with Chinese developments and increases the top speed. The CRH380A is designed to operate at a cruise speed of 350 km/h (217 mph) and a maximum of 380 km/h (236 mph) in commercial service. The original 8-car train-set recorded a top speed of 416.6 km/h (258.9 mph) during a trial run and the longer 16-car train-set temporarily held the world record for the fastest production train at 486.1 km/h (302.0 mph).
Contents
- History
- Technical features
- Test
- Commercialization
- Train series number
- Formation
- CRH380A
- CRH380AL
- Distribution
- Criticism
- References
CRH380A is one of the four Chinese train series which have been designed for the new standard operating speed of 380 km/h (236 mph) on newly constructed Chinese high-speed main lines, and the only series to officially not be based on a foreign design and produced under a technology transfer agreement, although there have been accusations that it is based on unlicensed Shinkansen technology.The other three are CRH380B, CRH380C and CRH380D: the CRH380B uses technology from Siemens, the CRH380C from Hitachi, and the CRH380D from Bombardier. The trains have had their operating speed reduced to 300 km/h (186 mph) after the Wenzhou train collision, in 2011.
History
The development started in early 2008, during the research procedure of CRH2-300 (later CRH2C), the CSR conducted more than 1000 technical tests covering 17 specific areas such as dynamic performance, pantograph-catenary current collection, aerodynamics, and traction performance. CSR discovered the technology to increase the maximum speed. These research findings were fed into the design for the new-generation high-speed train.
The original project was named "CRH2-350". On February 26, 2008,the Chinese Ministry of Science and Ministry of Railway (MOR) signed the Agreement on Joint and Independent Innovations of China High-speed Trains, CRH2-350 is one of the most important projects of this plan, the purpose is to develop Chinese designed new-generation High Speed train with continuous operating speed to be 350 km/h (217 mph), and maximum operating speed up to 380 km/h (236 mph). The new generations of rolling stock are expected to be used on the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway. the project officially launched in 2009, and was included in the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan"'s National technology support program for key technology and equipment development of China' s high speed train.
The design work includes four categories: schematic, technical, construction, and experimentation/verification. based on the analysis of large amounts of data and experience from the operation of the Beijing-Tianjin high-speed rail. the MOR completed a series of initial system and optimized subsystem design, then provided CSR sifang with primary data and design. CSR presented more than 20 types of designs. After further comparison, calculation, optimization, simulation and testwork, on April 12, 2010, the final design was published on the Official conference held by Sifang. The train model was exhibited in May at the China Railway Pavilion in the Shanghai World Expo Park (IRJ July p5).
On September 2009, the Ministry of Railway had ordered 100 16-car and 40 eight-car new-generation high-speed trains from CSR Sifang Locomotive & Rolling Stock, the contract worth ¥45 billion (US$6.64 billion).
On April 18, 2012, the MTR ordered 9 CRH380A train sets for Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link.
Technical features
According to CSR, the overall design of CRH380A reflects ten major goals.
Test
The prototype vehicle was rolled off on April, 2010, the eight-car train was being tested on the China Academy of Railway Sciences experimental loop line (Beijing loop line) starting from April 26, 2010, and started trial runs on the Zhengzhou-Xi'an high-speed line on June 7, 2010.
The initial standard CRH380A trainsets was delivered on August 2010, The first test on conventional rail, based on a daily-service mode, was conducted on September 28, 2010.
The test was held on the Shanghai–Hangzhou Passenger Railway (also known as the Huhang high-speed railway, "Hu" stands for "Shanghai", "Hang" stands for Hangzhou; Hangzhou is the capital city of Zhejiang Province). The trainset with series number CRH380A-6001 reached the maximum speed of 416.6 km/h (258.9 mph).
The first set of CRH380AL, series number CRH380A-6041L, rolled off line by October 2010. On November 8, 2010, the 16-car train was sent to Beijing loop line for test. On November 20, 2010, the train was sent to Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway for trial run. On November 26, 2010, the first 380 km/h (236 mph) test run at the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway was launched at Zaozhuang - Bengbu section. The trainset with series number CRH380A-6041L reached the maximum speed of 486.1 km/h (302.0 mph) on December 3, 2010. During the test, It traveled 220 km (137 mi) in 34 minutes, at average speed of 388 km/h (241 mph).
Commercialization
CRH380A entered service on September 30, 2010 in limited capacity on the Shanghai–Nanjing High-Speed Railway line.
On October 26, 2010, CRH380A entered regular service at the Shanghai–Hangzhou Passenger Railway and Shanghai–Nanjing Intercity Railway. The maximum operational speed reaches 355 km/h (221 mph), and this is always restricted by the software of the computerized control system. The travel time between Shanghai and Hangzhou reduced from 1 hour 18 minutes to 45 minutes. and travel time between Nanjing and Hangzhou reduced from 3 hour 19 minutes to 2 hour 48 minutes.
CRH380A started daily service at the Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway as of December 3, 2010.
Train series number
Formation
Each CRH380A has eight coaches, units with standard compartments were formed as follows:
Power Destination
Coach Type
CRH380A
CRH380AL
Distribution
As of September 2015
Criticism
Claims by Kawasaki Heavy Industries suggests that the trains design was Shinkansen derived without citation to the previous technology.