China Railways CRH380A

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.^[2] 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^[3] 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).^[4]

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.^[5]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

CRH380A at the Shanghai World Expo 2010

CRH380A at Luoyang Railway Station

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.^[2]

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.^[6] 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).^[7]

On April 18, 2012, the MTR ordered 9 CRH380A train sets for Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link.^[8]

Technical features

A CRH380A equipped with brushless electric motor

According to CSR, the overall design of CRH380A reflects ten major goals.^[2][9][10]

• Low-resistance, streamlined head. The nose of the train has a resistance coefficient of less than 0.13, aerodynamic resistance was reduced by 6.1%, aerodynamic noise by 7%, aerodynamic lift by 51.7% and the lateral force acting on the head by 6.1%.
• Vibration mode system matching. The CRH380A uses a lightweight aluminum alloy body whose total weight is no more than 9 t (8.9 long tons; 9.9 short tons), less than 17% of the entire vehicle; CSR has comprehensively improved the body structure, adopting a large number of new vibration damping materials. It also designed the bogie to match the performance of the body and optimized the train body's natural frequencies, which helps reduce structural vibrations at high speeds and improves ride comfort.
• Highly pressurized tight body. The pressure change rate inside the train is less than 200 Pa (0.029 psi)/s, with the maximum pressure change inside the train remaining below 800 Pa (0.12 psi) compared with the standard value of 1,000 Pa (0.15 psi). This ensures good ride quality at high speed.
• Safe and reliable high-speed bogies. The train is equipped with SWMB-400/SWTB-400 bolster-less bogies. These are a redesign of the SWMB-350/SWTB-350 bogies used by CRH2C; their critical instability speed is 550 km/h (342 mph). The new train's derail coefficient is 0.34 at a speed of 386 km/h (240 mph) while the maximum derail coefficient of the CRH2A is 0.73.^[11]
• Advanced noise control technology. By reducing sources of noise and adopting new sound absorbing and insulating materials, CSR has been able to control noise inside the train. The noise level is at 67 dB - 69 dB when running at 350 km/h (217 mph), which is similar to the CRH2A running at 250 km/h (155 mph).^[11]
• High-performance traction system, with YQ-365 motors manufactured by CSR Zhuzhou Electric Co., Ltd and CI11 Traction converters by Zhuzhou CSR Times Electric. The CRH380A has a new power unit configuration to maximize traction power. This allows the train to accelerate to 380 km/h (236 mph) in 7 minutes.
• Regenerative braking with a maximum energy feedback rate of 95%. With each stop nearly 800 kWh of electric power can be fed back to the electric grid.

Test

CRH380AJ at Guangzhou S. station

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,^[9] 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).^[12] The trainset with series number CRH_380A-6001 reached the maximum speed of 416.6 km/h (258.9 mph).^[12]

The first set of CRH380AL, series number CRH_380A-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.^[13] The trainset with series number CRH_380A-6041L reached the maximum speed of 486.1 km/h (302.0 mph) on December 3, 2010.^[14] During the test, It traveled 220 km (137 mi) in 34 minutes, at average speed of 388 km/h (241 mph).^[1][15]

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.^[16] The travel time between Shanghai and Hangzhou reduced from 1 hour 18 minutes to 45 minutes.^[17] and travel time between Nanjing and Hangzhou reduced from 3 hour 19 minutes to 2 hour 48 minutes.^[18]

CRH380A started daily service at the Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway as of December 3, 2010.^[19]

Train series number

• CRH380A : CRH380A-2501 ～ CRH380A-2540 and CRH380A-2641 ～ CRH380A-2925.
• CRH380AL : CRH380AL-2541 ～ CRH380A-2640.

Formation

Consolidated models of CRH380A are often double-headed in operation (seen at Beijing West Railway Station)

Second Class Coach

First Class Coach

Business Class Coach

Each CRH380A has eight coaches, units with standard compartments were formed as follows:

Power Destination

• M - Motor car
• T - Trailer car
• C - Driver cabin
• P - Pantograph

Coach Type

• SW - Business Class Coach
• ZY - First Class Coach
• ZE - Second Class Coach
• CA - Dining Car
• ZEC - Second Class Coach / Dining Car
• ZYG - First Class Coach / Sightseeing Car
• ZEG - Second Class Coach / Sightseeing Car
• ZYT - First Class / Premier Coach
• ZET - Second Class / Premier Coach
• ZYS - First Class / Business Coach
• ZES - Second Class / Business Coach

CRH380A

• ^1 Train No. CRH380A-2501 to CRH380A-2540
• ^2 Train No. CRH380A-2641 to CRH380A-2807, CRH380A-2809 to CRH380A-2827, CRH380A-2829 to CRH380A-2901

CRH380AL

• ^1 Train No. CRH380AL-2541 to CRH380AL-2570
• ^2 Train No. CRH380AL-2571 to CRH380AL-2640

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.^[5]

See also

• China Railways CRH1
• China Railways CRH2
• China Railways CRH3
• China Railways CRH5
• China Railways CRH6
• China Railways CIT Trains
• MTR CSR Sifang EMU
• List of high speed trains

References

External links

Media related to China Railways CRH380A at Wikimedia Commons