China's CR450 bullet train hits record-breaking speed of 453km/h
China's new CR450 bullet train hit a wild 453km/h during tests reported in October 2024—making it the fastest conventional train intended for commercial service.
This record was set on the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu high-speed line, beating its own design limits.
The CR450 is set to start carrying passengers in 2026 after logging over 600,000km of test runs.
Design tweaks to reduce air resistance
The CR450 comes with a longer nose, lower roofline, and fully enclosed bogies—design tweaks that cut air resistance by 22% compared to the older CR400 Fuxing.
Thanks to these upgrades, it can go from zero to 350km/h in just under five minutes, over a minute quicker than before.
CR450 raises the bar for high-speed rail tech worldwide
Right now, no commercial trains anywhere match this speed.
Japan's Shinkansen and Europe's TGV top out at about 350km/h in daily service—only special test runs get close.
With its latest feat, the CR450 has raised the bar for high-speed rail tech worldwide.