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China's new bullet train is world's fastest, smashes record

This train has run at 311 mph = 500 km/h. A French TGV has run at 357.2 mph / 574.8 km/h. How is this Chinese train the "world's fastest"?

The French train was a one time destructive test on a dedicated test track that destroyed both the train and track after one run, it was a stunt, and real TGV trains run at less than 300kph in regular operation.

This train is designed to test technology that allow regular, everyday operation at 500kph, compared to current 300kph trains running on Chinese HSR (and that's reduced from 350 kph pending signalling system fixes after the July crash). You can bet this train will travel much faster than than TGV during testing.

The TGV that set the 357 mph/574 kph record actually was just a slightly souped-up set of locomotives pulling an otherwise relatively normal TGV trainset, running on a recently completed portion of the TGV Est line toward Germany. It did not "destroy" the trainset or the tracks by any measure, though they did retrofit the trainset back to normal TGV standards after the record run. In fact, my wife, daughter and I had the privilege of riding on the very first paying-passenger west-bound TGV on that very line on June 10, 2007, several months after the record run ... So, yes, the line survived the test run, and I'm sure the locomotives are in service somewhere on the TGV network. Like China, the point of such high-speed tests is to explore the ultimate capability of HSR trainsets, then the "operational speeds" are set as a specific percentage of that ultimate speed capability. Not even China would "operate" a trainset with paying passengers anywhere near its ultimate speed capability... they may be able to run a train at 500 kph, but that means they are rating it for in-service operation at somewhere between 60%-80% of that speed (depending on how daring they are...). That means an operating speed of 300-400 kph... very fast, but not superhuman.

Hi there, I would like to compliment you on this on this very well written and factual reply.

I'm confused a bit about the speeds.... in same paragraph, you write 311 MPH and 300 KPH. It makes it confusing when you mix measurement standards, and impossible to compare unless we do our own calculations. is it "really" 311 MILES per hour, which makes us then convert to kilometers per hour on our own to arrive at 503 kph? then yes, 503 kph is exponentially faster than 300 kph. but I wonder if you really mean 311 KILOMETERS per hour, in which case the speed difference is just 11 kph, and more of a small incremental step.

and when did China start using MILES anyway, I thought they were on metric system.

*snip*
Over the weekend, local train manufacturer CSR Corp successfully completed a trial run of their fastest train yet. China Daily reported that the test train reached a world record-breaking speed of 311 mph. Previously, the title of fastest passenger train was held by the Beijing Shanghai High Speed Railway, which operated at a top speed of 300 kilometers per hour.
*end snip*

The conversion factor between miles and km is 1.6. This means that 100 miles equals 160 km.

Yes, China is using the metric system like everybody else, except East Timor, the US and some other country I cannot remember right now.

And here in the States we are lucky if they fix the road, pathetic.

And here in the US, politics opposes all progress, trains, bullet trains, renewable energy, green energy, and refuses to accept the fact that there is such a thing as "climate change". No wonder China has progressed within a short time. What will our future generation going to say about this? I guess ... pathetic.

That's why a one party system works, everyone's in the same family so you're encouraged to work out your differences. You're also not obligated to take an opposing view on what the other party proposes even if you agreed with them. Efficient, fast, and results-oriented.

Trains are not progress. Advancing personal transport, i.e. driverless cars, makes much more sense. America has always moved "Forward" by promoting freedom of choice and opportunity for the individual, not Five Years Plans and brutal oppression from the central government telling us how to go from place to place.

So-called "bullet" trains are not energy-efficient. You can't change the laws of physics. If you want to save the planet, stay home.

It would be a great idea if USA followed this idea and had fast trains between large cities such as Miami to New York etc, people would love to travel instead of waiting in the long lines at air ports, molested with impunity by the TSA and arrive at the destination to find your suit case in either relieved of some of its contents or crushed beyond repair.
I traveled once from London to Paris by the "EUROSTAR". I thought that was fast. But the Chinese have won this game hands down. Hats off to those engineers.

"So will China put in operation trains that push commuters beyond what is considered safe travel? Id say very unlikely..."
- Right, this author actually believes the Chines Government will side with caution for the passengers over getting the job done as cheaply as possible after citing the example of them going cheap on the adhesive for the tracks that killed 40 people? Seriously? Is this guy that naive or is he getting paid off by the Chines to write this baloney?? Five me a break smart planet...

The Chinese do not mess with their infrastructure, as those will affect national pride as well as the reputation and performance records of the officials involved, which is paramount to their advancement. In addition, if a serious enough offense does take place, the offenders be quickly trialed and shot. They do not appeal a death sentence for 20 years over there...

China is a team. They came from poverty caused by US exploitation. They drove out the US corporations. Now they are free to chase the solar butterfly into the future, free of coal, oil & nukes. Great work. China will achieve 100% solar power by 2050. Let us all work to make California 100% solar by 2050.

spends Trillions on ifrastructure. It is depressing because we could have also done the same, if our Military Industrial Complex did not own our Congressmen and the media also.

The OIL corporations dominate. All that is necessary to end our OIL war policy is for each city to adopt a Solar feed in tariff to require utilities to pay anyone who feeds solar onto the grid $0.54 kwh.
Don't mourn, organize. - Joe Hill.

People in any nation can get more done if they cooperate. Our biggest challenge today is to stop global warming from burning oil , by building a solar powered economy. Require Utilities to pay us $0.54 Kwh for feeding solar onto the grid, like they do in Germany.

Well, those that complain about the lack of progress in their own countries should come to Argentina and look at our trains... you would never believe it.
Just one ride on them and none of your close friends or family will recognize you any more.

The Buenos Aires subway system (first one in Southamerica, about 1910) is still running some lines (like the A line) with the ORIGINAL wagons!!! they are 100 years old --and they look it and feel it (they shake so much that your teeth clatter and if you try to speak, forgetting about the horrendous decibels, your voice wobbles.

So, my friends, do not complain so much, there's always someone in worse conditions than you.

Read the book: "Energy Imperative" by Hermann Scheer and you will see how fast one person can change their own country, if they spend 1 hour each day trying.

I hope Mr. Scheer changed HIS country (whichever it is) in just one hour of solid work into a splendid paradise on earth and went directly to write his book, surrounded by beautiful cherry trees in full bloom, singing birds, polite citizenry, total absence of crime, of dope and air pollution (you add more nasty things I could have left out).
I find it amazing that people can write books with those propositions and more amazing yet, people predisposed to buy them, to read them and more yet... to BELIEVE in what they read!!!
No wonder the world is in this conditions...

Stop your bickering about products made in China. You are not living in the 80's and 90's any more. Although I have to admit Asian countries need to better understand standards of the country they are exporting to. Importers are also to blame as they too ignore standards in favor of the bottom line.

i read once that in China they manufacture three different categories or qualities, from the raunchy cheap to the most luxurious items.
As you said, importers import the cheapest lines, since they already found out that people look only for low pricing, quality being something of no concern.

My parents, living in Oregon, were always interested in China. I picked up their interest at age 9. I am really impressed at how far China has gone since I began watching China in 1950. In the 60's I read Mao's little red book. Still have my copy. Now I prefer to buy Chinese solar panels. I plan to go to China to ride the bullet train in 2013. I am planning to retire in China. I want to live the Chinese magic carpet ride into the future. No place better.

Are those rusty train tracks?
How many miles will it take to stop?

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