High-speed trains that can run in adverse weather conditions and extremely low temperatures will be put into operation by the end of the year, officials of the CRRC Corp. Ltd. announced on Thursday, Nov.12.
CRRC made the announcement following the approval of the National Railway Administration for the use of the CRH2G high-speed train, which can operate in temperatures as low as -40 C and also in sandstorms and strong winds. In addition, the model can run in altitudes as high as 3,600 meters.
Ji Jialun, a railway expert at Beijing Jiaotong University, said that regions such as the Middle East and Russia are potential market for the new model where trains are required to withstand sandstorms and extreme weather.
It took three years of research and development for the new bullet trains to be developed, the official said.
According to Cheng Jianfeng, a senior engineer and designer with Qingdao Sifang, the trains that will be made by Qingdao Sifang Co. Ltd., a CRRC unit, will be used in the Lanzhou-Xinjiang high-speed railway line by the end of the year.
"The high-speed line will connect Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province, and Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The CRH2G provides more adaptable options for domestic bullet train networks in deserts and plateaus," Cheng said.
The report added that the biggest challenge is operating a high-speed train in Xinjiang, a region with an arid climate, where the railway passes through four major high-wind areas and the strong winds bring sand and dust.
Cheng said that a normal train that runs between Lanzhou and Urumqi has to be cleaned every three days. However, the new model only needs to be cleaned just once in one or two months, which will help save on energy and maintenance costs.
"The CRH2G is also suited to the diversified requirements of various countries. It will help boost China's high-speed train exports and improve its competitiveness in the global market," Cheng added.
China has built a high-speed railway network of about 17,000 kilometers, which account for more than 60 percent of the world's total.