China: World's fastest train hits 281 mph in pre-service trials

China’s CR450 bullet train has set a new speed record by reaching 281 mph (450 km/h) during pre-service trials on the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu high-speed railway line. This surpasses the previous record of 217 mph (350 km/h) held by the CR400 Fuxing trains. The CR450, unveiled in November 2022 and developed by China State Railway Group and China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), is currently in its final testing phase, which requires 373,000 miles (600,000 kilometers) of operation before commercial launch, expected in 2026. The CR450 achieves its high speed through several design innovations focused on drag reduction, including an extended nose cone (from 12.5 to 15 meters), fully enclosed bogies, lower skirt panels, a reduced height by 20 centimeters, and a weight reduction of 55 tons. These enhancements reduce overall resistance by 22 percent and enable the train to accelerate from