China HSR News And Information: Original Translation

[cirr]

Smart toilets on trial at Shanghai railway station

2017-09-08 14:03

chinaplus.cri.cn Editor: Gu Liping

The electronic display shows the real-time "occupancy" situation of the toilets at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

A new smart-toilet system has been installed at a railway station in Shanghai, reports Chinanews.com.

It's to solve the problem of long queues during national holidays and peak periods before.

Passengers at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station will now be able to see the real time 'occupancy' situation, and will be directed to the next available cubicle.

When the green light is on, it means the cubicle is ready for use. A red light indicates that the cubicle is in use.

A staff member at the railway station says the intelligent guidance system has been in use for around two weeks, making it easier and quicker for passengers to use the facilities.

If it proves a success, the smart system will be used for all the toilets in the station.

http://www.ecns.cn/2017/09-08/272805.shtml

 

[AndrewJin]

Smart toilets on trial at Shanghai railway station

2017-09-08 14:03

chinaplus.cri.cn Editor: Gu Liping

The electronic display shows the real-time "occupancy" situation of the toilets at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

A new smart-toilet system has been installed at a railway station in Shanghai, reports Chinanews.com.

It's to solve the problem of long queues during national holidays and peak periods before.

Passengers at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station will now be able to see the real time 'occupancy' situation, and will be directed to the next available cubicle.

When the green light is on, it means the cubicle is ready for use. A red light indicates that the cubicle is in use.

A staff member at the railway station says the intelligent guidance system has been in use for around two weeks, making it easier and quicker for passengers to use the facilities.

If it proves a success, the smart system will be used for all the toilets in the station.

http://www.ecns.cn/2017/09-08/272805.shtml

Female toilets/male toilets ratio is too small from this map.
There is no really queue before any male toilet at any railway station.

 

[cirr]

China's CRH6A-A, CRH6F-A intercity trains go off production line in Qingdao

2017-09-10 10:00XinhuaEditor:Huang Mingrui


Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2017 shows a CRH6 intercity train with the four-car configuration in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. China's CRH6A-A and CRH6F-A intercity trains, with the four-car configuration, went off the production line in Qingdao on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Jingang)


Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2017 shows a CRH6 intercity train with the four-car configuration in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. China's CRH6A-A and CRH6F-A intercity trains, with the four-car configuration, went off the production line in Qingdao on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Jingang)


Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2017 shows a CRH6A-A intercity train in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. China's CRH6A-A and CRH6F-A intercity trains, with the four-car configuration, went off the production line in Qingdao on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xudong)


Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2017 shows the seats in a CRH6A-A intercity train in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. China's CRH6A-A and CRH6F-A intercity trains, with the four-car configuration, went off the production line in Qingdao on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xudong)


Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2017 shows a driver in the cabin of a CRH6 intercity train with the four-car configuration in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. China's CRH6A-A and CRH6F-A intercity trains, with the four-car configuration, went off the production line in Qingdao on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Jingang)


Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2017 shows a CRH6A-A intercity train in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. China's CRH6A-A and CRH6F-A intercity trains, with the four-car configuration, went off the production line in Qingdao on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xudong)


Passengers are seen aboard a CRH6 intercity train with the four-car configuration during a test ride in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Sept. 9, 2017. China's CRH6A-A and CRH6F-A intercity trains, with the four-car configuration, went off the production line in Qingdao on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Jingang)


Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2017 shows a CRH6 intercity train with the four-car configuration in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. China's CRH6A-A and CRH6F-A intercity trains, with the four-car configuration, went off the production line in Qingdao on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Jingang)

 

[cirr]

High-speed rail trips get easier as network expands

2017-09-11 08:51

China Daily Editor: Huang Mingrui

A high-speed train heads to Ulanqab from Hohhot in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region in August, marking the openning of the region's first high-speed railway. (Tang Zhe/For China Daily)

At major transfer hubs, passengers no longer need to exit, re-enter gate

Passengers can now reach most of China's major cities by bullet train, thanks to a network that includes linkages of a number of rail routes, as well as efficient major transfer hubs.

According to China Railway Corp, the national rail operator, direct high-speed train services have been arranged between cities with a large number of passengers, including Beijing-Kunming, Harbin-Shanghai and Chengdu-Guangzhou. Those direct services link big cities in different regions by taking more than one rail route.

Service between Dalian, Liaoning province, and Xi'an, Shaanxi province, involves eight high-speed rail routes that link 18 medium-size and large cities.

Running the network is no easy task. A high-speed rail route must not only carry out bullet train services running only on a single line but also on multiple lines.

The major transfer hub design allows easy transfers to other bullet trains. Passengers can make travel plans and buy connected tickets in advance. When they arrive at the transfer station, they can use a transfer gateway to board the next service, with no need to exit the gate and enter again. The major transfer hub design offsets the lack of direct service in some areas, providing more convenient travel choices.

Lanzhou West station, the major transfer hub linking the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region with the rest of China, is expected to receive more than 5,000 transfer passengers a day, said Wang Jian, the deputy head of the station. The Baoji-Lanzhou rail route opened in July, and Wang estimates daily passengers will reach 25,000. The route links Lanzhou with the high-speed rail network.

No direct service links Xinjiang with most cities beyond Lanzhou. A passenger from Beijing can take a direct service to Lanzhou and then transfer at Lanzhou West station to Xinjiang.

China's high-speed rail network has surpassed 20,000 kilometers, spanning all provincial level regions except Tibet and the Ningxia Hui autonomous region. Hub cities are scattered around the country and linked by the high-speed network.

The world's longest high-speed rail service in operation is the 2,760-kilometer Beijing-Kunming service, according to China Railway Corp. Beijing has a distinct spring, summer, fall and winter, whereas Kunming has been called "the spring city" because the weather never gets very cold.

Like the Beijing-Kunming service, departure and arrival cities are different, requiring a different model of bullet train to adjust to diverse local environment.

In the northeastern region's winter, when the lowest temperature can hit -40 C, bullet trains need to adjust. In the northwest region's deserts, featuring strong winds and sandstorms, such as along the Lanzhou-Xinjiang line, bullet trains have stormproof designs.

According to a plan released by the National Development and Reform Commission in July 2016, China will expand the high-speed rail network to 30,000 km by 2020, linking 80 percent of major cities. By 2030, the network will link all cities with populations of more than 500,000.

Riding China's rails

China's high-speed rail network stretched 22,000 kilometers as of 2016, accounting for 65 percent of the world's total high-speed railway.

The world's longest bullet train service reaches 2,760 kilometers from Beijing to Kunming, Yunnan province.

The world's longest continuous high-speed rail track reaches 2,298 kilometers between Beijing and Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

China is the only country with trains running at 350 km/h. Service on several Chinese lines have reached that speed, including Beijing-Tianjin, Beijing-Shanghai and Shanghai-Ningbo.

http://www.ecns.cn/business/2017/09-11/272962.shtml

 

[AndrewJin]

China's CRH6A-A, CRH6F-A intercity trains go off production line in Qingdao

2017-09-10 10:00XinhuaEditor:Huang Mingrui


Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2017 shows a CRH6 intercity train with the four-car configuration in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. China's CRH6A-A and CRH6F-A intercity trains, with the four-car configuration, went off the production line in Qingdao on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Jingang)


Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2017 shows a CRH6 intercity train with the four-car configuration in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. China's CRH6A-A and CRH6F-A intercity trains, with the four-car configuration, went off the production line in Qingdao on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Jingang)


Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2017 shows a CRH6A-A intercity train in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. China's CRH6A-A and CRH6F-A intercity trains, with the four-car configuration, went off the production line in Qingdao on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xudong)


Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2017 shows the seats in a CRH6A-A intercity train in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. China's CRH6A-A and CRH6F-A intercity trains, with the four-car configuration, went off the production line in Qingdao on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xudong)


Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2017 shows a driver in the cabin of a CRH6 intercity train with the four-car configuration in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. China's CRH6A-A and CRH6F-A intercity trains, with the four-car configuration, went off the production line in Qingdao on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Jingang)


Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2017 shows a CRH6A-A intercity train in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. China's CRH6A-A and CRH6F-A intercity trains, with the four-car configuration, went off the production line in Qingdao on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xudong)


Passengers are seen aboard a CRH6 intercity train with the four-car configuration during a test ride in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Sept. 9, 2017. China's CRH6A-A and CRH6F-A intercity trains, with the four-car configuration, went off the production line in Qingdao on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Jingang)


Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2017 shows a CRH6 intercity train with the four-car configuration in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. China's CRH6A-A and CRH6F-A intercity trains, with the four-car configuration, went off the production line in Qingdao on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Jingang)

More flexible configuration

 

[JSCh]

First PPP financing deal signed for China's high-speed railway
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-11 23:08:59|Editor: yan



HANGZHOU, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's first public-private partnership (PPP) funded high-speed railway saw its financing contract signed on Monday.

Fosun Group leads the consortium of eight private firms that hold 51 percent stake in the Hangzhou-Shaoxing-Taizhou project. State-owned China Railway, Zhejiang Communications Investment Group, and local government hold the rest.

The 269-km railway project is estimated to cost 44.9 billion yuan (6.9 billion U.S. dollars). Construction will take four years.

The share-holders will be responsible for managing the railway for 30 years before they hand it to the government for free.

Fang Jianhong, executive president of Sunvision Equity Investment and Management Co, a Fosun subsidiary, said the fees to be charged on railway users and the government's viability gap funding scheme will help private investors get stable returns from the project.

Officials with Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission said the project will herald a new era for railway project financing and play an exemplary role.

China has been redoubling its efforts to build the world's most extensive and sophisticated railway network. By 2020, China will have 150,000 km railway including 30,000 km high-speed railway, according to the government's plan.

 

[TaiShang]

China considers construction of super-high-speed railways
By Wu Jin
China.org.cn, September 12, 2017

Fuxing train C2008 is seen leaving Tianjin Railway Station, Aug. 21, 2017. China's new-generation bullet trains, the Fuxing, were put into operation on the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway Aug. 21. (Xinhua/Yang Baosen)

The attempt to accelerate the speed of its bullet trains to more than 1,000 kilometers per hour (kph), with trips being shortened from hours to minutes, hopefully may soon go beyond fictional imagination and come true, the Chinese newspaper Science Daily reported recently.

At the recent 3rd China International Commercial Aerospace Forum in Wuhan, Hubei Province, the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp (CASIC) announced its scientists were exploring the viability of trains running at supersonic speeds.

As envisioned in 2013 by Elon Musk, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Space X from the United States, passenger and freight trains would eventually reach a top speed of 1,207 kph.

In May, the U.S. based Hyperloop One claimed they had completed a test for trains to run at 111 kph in a vacuum, raising this to 310 kph two months later. However, the laboratory results are nothing exceptional if comparing to the latest launch of China's Fuxing Express, capable of running at normal speed of 350 kph, let alone the intra-city operation of Shanghai's maglev trains reaching 430 kph.

According to Mao Kai, CASIC technological project director, the diminution of air resistance and the reduction of friction on tracks working as homogeneous approaches globally are essential to the drastic acceleration of bullet trains.

However, despite goodwill and high expectations, the labyrinth of the core technologies remains unraveled.

Professor Zhao Yong, from the superconductor and new energies research center of Southwest Jiaotong University, has engaged in the study of maglev trains moving in vacuum tubes for about six years. He catalogued three major technological conundrums waiting to be solved for the acceleration of high-speed expresses.

The first problem is to create sufficient and less costly vacuum space that encompasses space for the platforms needed for passengers to enter or exit the trains; Second, a super-high-speed railway needs linear traction technology, which however, has had difficulty in generating an impetus strong enough to make the train speed up' and third, the maglev technologies are still immature.

However, Mao said, there would be no need to build an absolute vacuum surrounding which may increase the complexity and costs of the projects. CASIC is seeking major technological breakthroughs, such as, the adoption of super-conduction magnetic levitation, though the technology is still to be improved.

"Even though the manned aerospace exploration has enabled CASIC to develop vacuum technologies by drawing on its resourceful experiences, it remains a big challenge to build vacuum tubes between cities and towns over huge distances," said Mao.

China has laid out three strategic phases for building the network of super-high-speed railways, while feasibility is still under discussion.

In view of the blueprint, the network will ultimately facilitate the interconnection of "Belt and Road" countries after the experimental operations of trains running between towns and city groups throughout China.

"It's a huge and complicated system, which needs meticulous verification, so it remains too early to announce an exact agenda," Mao said.

At the same time, some U.S. companies desirous of partnering China in the particular field and advised their Chinese counterparts to look for ways to generate income that can cover portions of the cost and lower ticket prices.

 

[JSCh]

China's new CRH6 commuter high-speed trains roll off assembly line
New China TV Published on Sep 12, 2017

China's first CRH6 commuter high-speed trains roll off assembly line. The new-generation bullet trains are capable of speeds of up to 250 kph, and are mainly used on express commuter services.

 

[cirr]

1st direct freight train service linking E China, Duisburg launched

2017-09-16 09:20

Xinhua Editor:Li Yahui


A freight train leaves for Duisburg port of Germany from Weihai port in east China's Shandong Province Sept. 15, 2017. The first direct freight train service linking Weihai port and Duisburg port was launched on Friday. (Xinhua/Tang Ke)


A freight train leaves for Duisburg port of Germany from Weihai port in east China's Shandong Province Sept. 15, 2017. The first direct freight train service linking Weihai port and Duisburg port was launched on Friday. (Xinhua/Tang Ke)

 

[AndrewJin]

China considers construction of super-high-speed railways
By Wu Jin
China.org.cn, September 12, 2017

Fuxing train C2008 is seen leaving Tianjin Railway Station, Aug. 21, 2017. China's new-generation bullet trains, the Fuxing, were put into operation on the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway Aug. 21. (Xinhua/Yang Baosen)

The attempt to accelerate the speed of its bullet trains to more than 1,000 kilometers per hour (kph), with trips being shortened from hours to minutes, hopefully may soon go beyond fictional imagination and come true, the Chinese newspaper Science Daily reported recently.

At the recent 3rd China International Commercial Aerospace Forum in Wuhan, Hubei Province, the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp (CASIC) announced its scientists were exploring the viability of trains running at supersonic speeds.

As envisioned in 2013 by Elon Musk, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Space X from the United States, passenger and freight trains would eventually reach a top speed of 1,207 kph.

In May, the U.S. based Hyperloop One claimed they had completed a test for trains to run at 111 kph in a vacuum, raising this to 310 kph two months later. However, the laboratory results are nothing exceptional if comparing to the latest launch of China's Fuxing Express, capable of running at normal speed of 350 kph, let alone the intra-city operation of Shanghai's maglev trains reaching 430 kph.

According to Mao Kai, CASIC technological project director, the diminution of air resistance and the reduction of friction on tracks working as homogeneous approaches globally are essential to the drastic acceleration of bullet trains.

However, despite goodwill and high expectations, the labyrinth of the core technologies remains unraveled.

Professor Zhao Yong, from the superconductor and new energies research center of Southwest Jiaotong University, has engaged in the study of maglev trains moving in vacuum tubes for about six years. He catalogued three major technological conundrums waiting to be solved for the acceleration of high-speed expresses.

The first problem is to create sufficient and less costly vacuum space that encompasses space for the platforms needed for passengers to enter or exit the trains; Second, a super-high-speed railway needs linear traction technology, which however, has had difficulty in generating an impetus strong enough to make the train speed up' and third, the maglev technologies are still immature.

However, Mao said, there would be no need to build an absolute vacuum surrounding which may increase the complexity and costs of the projects. CASIC is seeking major technological breakthroughs, such as, the adoption of super-conduction magnetic levitation, though the technology is still to be improved.

"Even though the manned aerospace exploration has enabled CASIC to develop vacuum technologies by drawing on its resourceful experiences, it remains a big challenge to build vacuum tubes between cities and towns over huge distances," said Mao.

China has laid out three strategic phases for building the network of super-high-speed railways, while feasibility is still under discussion.

In view of the blueprint, the network will ultimately facilitate the interconnection of "Belt and Road" countries after the experimental operations of trains running between towns and city groups throughout China.

"It's a huge and complicated system, which needs meticulous verification, so it remains too early to announce an exact agenda," Mao said.

At the same time, some U.S. companies desirous of partnering China in the particular field and advised their Chinese counterparts to look for ways to generate income that can cover portions of the cost and lower ticket prices.

Not sure about future.
But now in 2017, we will welcome the inauguration of numerous HSRs(>250km/h) and rapid railways(200km/h).

 

[AndrewJin]

CRH380A @ Changsha South Railway Station in Central China
Beijing-Changsha-Guangzhou-HK HSR
Shanghai-Changsha-Kunming HSR
Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtai HSR

400-500 bullet trains per day via Changsha South

@terranMarine @Keel @anant_s @PARIKRAMA @Arsalan et al

 

[AndrewJin]

New-generation
Multifunctional railway maintenance train
put in use

@Martian2 @TaiShang @Jlaw @anant_s et al

 

[anant_s]

New-generation
Multifunctional railway maintenance train
put in use

View attachment 426110 View attachment 426114 View attachment 426112 View attachment 426111 View attachment 426113
@Martian2 @TaiShang @Jlaw @anant_s et al

Wonderful livery!
Reminds of Doctor Yellow used by JR for similar purpose.

 

[AndrewJin]

China's new CRH6 commuter high-speed trains roll off assembly line
New China TV Published on Sep 12, 2017

China's first CRH6 commuter high-speed trains roll off assembly line. The new-generation bullet trains are capable of speeds of up to 250 kph, and are mainly used on express commuter services.

Not really the new CRH6, but the first 4-cars CRH6.
Shorter EMU, more flexible.

CRH6 is a MONEY-SUCKING machine.....
4 cars CRH6A 688 passengers
4 cars CRH6F 875 passengers.....

Wonderful livery!
Reminds of Doctor Yellow used by JR for similar purpose.

Is yellow the universal colour for maintenance trains?
I also see all those vehicles for power line maintenance in yellow.
Which colour does the maintenance trains in India use?

 

[AndrewJin]

CR400 at Beijing Depot