Travel News - China Tests 500km/h High Speed Train

I saw this article on Yahoo and found it pretty interesting. Maybe high speed trains will help with travel around China in the future!

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/china-tests-500-km-h-super-high-speed-060158634.html

I wonder how safe they will be, given the recent spate of accidents.

I wonder how safe they will be, given the recent spate of accidents.

Good question! I am guessing that the train is.... made in China which doesn't usually say quality in a product.

I wonder how safe they will be, given the recent spate of accidents.

You're right! They have to reduce the accident. They have be more extremely careful out there. They should be more responsibilities for the safety with the passengers & the crew, too. Must be ensure to follow the safety rules.

have been in the news this past year, what with the loss of power-generating plants in the Fukushima melt-down, but didn't we also read that
China was reducing speeds to save the cost of expensive electricity?

have been in the news this past year, what with the loss of power-generating plants in the Fukushima melt-down, but didn't we also read that
China was reducing speeds to save the cost of expensive electricity?

Yes, they will have reduced the speed from 300MPH to 200MPH due to expensive the electricity. If they have cut the speed.

Yes, they will have reduced the speed from 300MPH to 200MPH due to expensive the electricity. If they have cut the speed.

The 1st Slowdown Campaign was from 350 km/h to 300 km/h.

They need to work on their infrastructure if they are going to run trains that fast, they still are not ready for them. From todays news

BEIJING — Chinese investigators on Wednesday delivered a long-awaited report into the deadly July 23 high-speed train crash in the eastern coastal city of Wenzhou, attributing it to a string of blunders, including serious design flaws in crucial equipment used to signal and control the trains.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/29/world/asia/design-flaws-cited-in-china-train-crash.html?_r=1&smid=tw-nytimes&seid=auto

The 1st Slowdown Campaign was from 350 km/h to 300 km/h.

LOL, China was/is determined to set & break every world records for the fastest trains in the "universe". As I recall, the slow down wasn't energy conservation related but done under pressure from the top/central government for safety reasons - as the railroad officials were debating whether the deadly train crashes were due to mechanical issues, safety systems failure, operator & training errors, ignorance of protocols, or a matrix of factors. The original designers of these hi-speed trains apparently warned against and believed these flying bullets are pushed beyond their limits & tolerance and riding on tracks that are often poorly constructed & not inspected on a regular basis, etc.

Meanwhile, their average citizens were blogging that while they can afford to shoot the moon (launch unmanned satellites) and placed the largest orders for jumbo jets from Boeing, the towns & villages are still not doing anything different to improve school bus safety for its children - saying, life isn't worth much.

A modernized mass transit system is definitely needed .... safety is never in question until it's compromised by the next accident, which many believed are just waiting to happen.

Postscript/edits - Latest coming out of PEK on this summer's deadly train crash: "According to a final investigation report, the train crash was caused by major design flaws in train operating equipment, relaxed safety controls and poor emergency response to equipment failure," the state-run Xinhua news agency said. A number of top officials were fired & dozens other being disciplined (a/k/a slap on the wrists) and new officials put in charge .... learning from their overseas counterpart on "spin control"

Prices are within reach of the country's rising urban "middle" class but for the rural & working classes, other modes of transportation or the slower regular trains with hard seats remain the only option.

America train travel is a joke....including American roads....


China has some great trains....So does France, US way behind....been there...

LOL, China was/is determined to set & break every world records for the fastest trains in the "universe". As I recall, the slow down wasn't energy conservation related but done under pressure from the top/central government for safety reasons - as the railroad officials were debating whether the deadly train crashes were due to mechanical issues, safety systems failure, operator & training errors, ignorance of protocols, or a matrix of factors.

The 2nd Slowdown Campaign was after Wenzhou crash.

The 1st Slowdown Campaign, however, was before the crash - start of July, shortly after Beijing-Shanghai opened at 300 km/h rather than 350 km/h.

I wonder how safe they will be, given the recent spate of accidents.

TMK, spate > 1.

Back on topic, while they may report "300", Jinghu HSR routinely runs at just over 310 kph.

Americas Welfare Class is better off then China's middle class..and live better than many of their high class..


No way. In fact, I would argue that the 1980+ generation in China is better off than its counterparts in the US/Europe. Sure, $400 isn't a lot of money, but pretty much all of that is disposable income (because most live with their parents or in apartments paid for by their parents).

Is Nanjing-Hangzhou high speed railway long enough to test trains at 500+ km/h?

America train travel is a joke....including American roads....


China has some great trains....So does France, US way behind....been there...

American highways are not a joke. U.S. Interstate system is he largest in the world.

American highways are not a joke. U.S. Interstate system is he largest in the world.

I prefer American highways to Chinese highways (much better truck stops, fast food, interesting diversions), but I believe that the China National Highway network is projected to overtake the US Interstate system within the next 5 years (adding in secondary highs clouds the analysis in both cases, but probably moreso in the case of the US because most of roads between cities in China are "national highways").

Unbelievable speed.. no room for error..

I feel safer on a plane..:)

Unbelievable speed.. no room for error..

I feel safer on a plane..:)

I believe that statistically, HSTs are significantly safer...

Good question! I am guessing that the train is.... made in China which doesn't usually say quality in a product.

Well, a large number of their new HSTs are based on Siemens Velaro units (German), though with a few modifications IIRC.

Besides, no-one starts off perfectly... even the Germans had a very serious rail disaster in the 90s, with the ICE 1.

As the HST's have been in existence for about five minutes, there is no way to make such a statistical assumption one way or another. Regarding roads, yes they are building a lot of them, but the problem(s) often begin from the moment you exit them. Good for them if in 5 or 10 years they manage to have more kms laid (which is their intention), however that is not the only gauge of what a 'great" system it is (Last I looked when you exited any random 20 exits off a US interstate, you hit a paved road, last I did this in China 19 out of 20 were not so hot...)

As the HST's have been in existence for about five minutes, there is no way to make such a statistical assumption one way or another.

I mean HSTs in general, not Chinese HSTs. Just as the safety of airlines in China may not match that of those operating in Germany. But, looking at the whole industry, I'm quite confident that trains and high-speed trains are at least as safe, if not significantly more safe, than aircraft, whether you look at passenger trips, or I'd be willing to bet, even passenger miles.

They probably were, what concerns me was that on my last trip on a Chinese HST I was with government officials who were proudly touring me around the train, we went and visited the "cockpit" and I found a guy in ragged pants and a t-shirt wearing flip flops, sitting in folding garden chair "piloting" the train, who had obviously just finished smoking a few seconds before we entered the "cockpit". I don't think I'd find that on French, German or Japanese HST's..........

Ok, now that is slightly concerning... :eek:

They probably were, what concerns me was that on my last trip on a Chinese HST I was with government officials who were proudly touring me around the train, we went and visited the "cockpit" and I found a guy in ragged pants and a t-shirt wearing flip flops, sitting in folding garden chair "piloting" the train, who had obviously just finished smoking a few seconds before we entered the "cockpit". I don't think I'd find that on French, German or Japanese HST's..........

In Japan, you'd see a driver sitting in a Captain's chair, wearing a dress shirt, tie, coat, hat, and white gloves. And I think this stuff does make a difference. Even setting aside cultural differences, just within the same culture, compare the level of professionalism between a train operator in coat, tie, jacket and white gloves vs one in a t-shirt, flip-flops, and a lawn chair.

In Japan, you'd see a driver sitting in a Captain's chair, wearing a dress shirt, tie, coat, hat, and white gloves. And I think this stuff does make a difference. Even setting aside cultural differences, just within the same culture, compare the level of professionalism between a train operator in coat, tie, jacket and white gloves vs one in a t-shirt, flip-flops, and a lawn chair.Forget about the driver entirely. The presence of a lawn chair as a place for the operator to sit during his duty time would make me lose whatever confidence I may have previously had about this particular train and its :rolleyes:wner/builder.

In Japan, you'd see a driver sitting in a Captain's chair, wearing a dress shirt, tie, coat, hat, and white gloves. And I think this stuff does make a difference. Even setting aside cultural differences, just within the same culture, compare the level of professionalism between a train operator in coat, tie, jacket and white gloves vs one in a t-shirt, flip-flops, and a lawn chair.

Where does the t-shirt, flip-flops, and lawn chair happen?

TMK, spate > 1.
+1

"spate" = A large number of similar things or events appearing or occurring in quick succession: "a spate of attacks on travelers".

There is no "large number" of HST accidents in China to speak of.

Thanks for sharing the link. China use great technology. It will be wonderful to seat into very speedy train.

I couldn't quite glean this from the article, but I imagine that's pure "MAG-LEV" technology.
At THOSE speeds? I would imagine so.

Yikes, that's BLAZING fast for anything on the ground.

Too fast, too close to the ground for me. I need altitude at those speeds. ;)

I couldn't quite glean this from the article, but I imagine that's pure "MAG-LEV" technology.
At THOSE speeds? I would imagine so.

Yikes, that's BLAZING fast for anything on the ground.

Too fast, too close to the ground for me. I need altitude at those speeds. ;)

Shall we debate whether seat belts should be installed & provided (3 points or 5 points racing style) for pax, regardless of mandatory usage or not, at these "blinding" speed - I recall reading articles about having it ... not that they will necessary do much good with the tremendous forces involved in a rear-end collision?

I couldn't quite glean this from the article, but I imagine that's pure "MAG-LEV" technology.
At THOSE speeds? I would imagine so.

Yikes, that's BLAZING fast for anything on the ground.

Too fast, too close to the ground for me. I need altitude at those speeds. ;)

Dizzying to see the landscape flying by at 500 km/h.. I feel the need for speed, but not relaxing, and almost a migraine on ground level..

I couldn't quite glean this from the article, but I imagine that's pure "MAG-LEV" technology.


For now, at least, China has all but given up on Maglev.

Where does the t-shirt, flip-flops, and lawn chair happen?

Read the post that I quoted. A FTer said he personally witnessed this in China.

For now, at least, China has all but given up on Maglev.

Really? At THOSE speeds? I can't imagine how without MagLev.

I wonder what they are using?

Really? At THOSE speeds? I can't imagine how without MagLev.

I wonder what they are using?

Wheeled trains, limited since Second Slowdown Campaign to 300 km/h.

Transrapid maglev has not been shut down and still operates at 430 km/h. But no extension plans have been carried out yet.

Wheeled trains, limited since Second Slowdown Campaign to 300 km/h.

Transrapid maglev has not been shut down and still operates at 430 km/h. But no extension plans have been carried out yet.

"300" is more like "315" in practice, and I'm confident that some trains will speed up again within the course of the next year.

"300" is more like "315" in practice, and I'm confident that some trains will speed up again within the course of the next year.

What have been the results of the safety review after the Wenzhou crash?

Which lines have been picked for speed-up (seventh campaign?), and when?

Is Sheng Guangzu the permanent, whole generation Minister of Railways now? Or could Sheng retire if Wen Jiabao does?

What have been the results of the safety review after the Wenzhou crash?

Which lines have been picked for speed-up (seventh campaign?), and when?

The slow-down in reaction to the crash seems almost like something we'd do the US: put in a new rule to placate the public, even though it has absolutely nothing to do with what caused the accident. As far as I know, the train crash had nothing to do with the trains running "too fast" - it was entirely caused by a train that was unexpectedly stopped on the track combined with a signaling system failure and a breakdown in procedures.

Really? At THOSE speeds? I can't imagine how without MagLev.

I wonder what they are using?I kn;)w - t-shirts, flip-flops, and lawn chairs!

The slow-down in reaction to the crash seems almost like something we'd do the US: put in a new rule to placate the public, even though it has absolutely nothing to do with what caused the accident. As far as I know, the train crash had nothing to do with the trains running "too fast" - it was entirely caused by a train that was unexpectedly stopped on the track combined with a signaling system failure and a breakdown in procedures.

Politics works the same way everywhere and in every political system!