WWW.ECNS.CN Changsha, June 13th (Liu Zhuozhi) "This land is like a kingdom for train fans. The test ride of maglev 2.0 train is a feast for fans!" On June 13th, Li Chuanxin, a first-year master’s student of the School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering at Central South University, after entering the latest China's first commercial maglev 2.0 train to experience, he excitedly called it as “quiet, stable, and high-tech”.
On the same day, more than 20 “electric locomotive fans” from around the country gathered in Hunan, together with CRRC ZELC research personnel and media reporters, to witness the inauguration ceremony of the latest 160-kilometre-an-hour maglev train. To everyone's greater pride, the core area of Chang-Zhu-Tan in Hunan, depending on its strong industrial cluster advantage, is building China’s first commercial maglev system with complete independent intellectual property rights.
"Maglev 2.0" is faster and carries more passengers
(The exterior color of Commercial Maglev Train 2.0 is white and green, which inspired by dolphins. Photo by Liu Zhuozhi)
On May 6th, 2016, the 100 km/h Changsha maglev train, leading developed by CRRC ZELC, was put into commercial operation. As the first self-contained commercial maglev project in China, Changsha maglev trains have run over 1.7 million kilometres and carried nearly 6 million passengers, being widely known as the China’s Commercial Maglev 1.0 Train.
The Commercial Maglev 2.0 Train has fully absorbed the 1.0 version’s development and operation experience. Its design speed reaches 160 kilometers per hour with 500-passenger maximum capacity in three carriages. On the basis of remaining the existing tracks, the key technologies in terms of vehicle system integration, traction, suspension, current collection, light weight and braking have been innovated.
According to Tong Laisheng, director of the Maglev Research Institute of CRRC ZELC, there are four innovations in Maglev 2.0 Train: Firstly, the train adopts the system engineering analysis method, and successfully builds the world’s fastest short stator linear motor traction maglev train platform with 2800 mm vehicle width. Secondly, the design of traction auxiliary system equipment has been optimized so that the power density per unit weight is greatly improved. The traction power is increased by 30%, the auxiliary system power is increased by 25%, the suspended power supply capacity is increased by 30%, and the passenger capacity is increased to 500 people. Thirdly, the improvement of the design of end and middle electromagnet allows the suspension capacity of the entire train to increase by 6 tons. Last but not the least, a large number of latest structures and materials are applied to the various systems of the train to achieve light weight.
Maglev 2.0 Train is expected to be tested on Changsha Maglev line in August this year. R&D work for the entire medium-speed maglev system will be completed within the year, and it is expected to become the world’s first mid-speed maglev transportation system for commercial operations.
Establish the commercial maglev system to create "Maglev Capital of China"
(The interior of the maglev 2.0 train. Photo by Liu Zhuzhi)
It is reported that the commercial maglev 1.0 train is more suitable for urban transportation while maglev 2.0 train with a speed of 160 kilometers per hour is suitable for traffic between central city and satellite cities. As solution provider for50 to 200 kilometers intercity travel , the research and development of maglev 3.0 train with a speed of 200 kilometers per hour has passed the industrial review and is expected to be rolled off by CRRC ZELC in 2019.
Liu Youmei, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said that this marks that China has mastered the commercial maglev train’ system integration technology and core technology, owned a manufacturing platform for different types of maglev trains; it has established a commercial maglev system with complete independent intellectual property rights from technology development, manufacturing, experimental verification to commercial operations. At present, China's self-developed commercial maglev project covers products with short-statoror long-statorlinear motor traction, autonomous or unmanned operation with a speed of 100 km, 160 km and 200 km.
60 years ago, China’s first electric locomotive was born in Zhuzhou, the Home to China’s electric locomotives. In recent years, relying on the advantages of production, research and development of rail transit equipment industry clusters, Hunan has successively established Hunan Maglev Transportation Development Co., Ltd., Hunan Maglev Technology Research Center, and Hunan Maglev Group Co., Ltd. to swiftly develop maglev industrial chain with the support of National University of Defense Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University, Tongji University, etc.
Nowadays, more than 90% of 10,000 components adopted in maglev trains can complete R&D, production and procurement in Hunan Province. With advantages of synchronous innovation in the industry chain, we need much shorter time to have commercial train operated from tested train. The core area of Chang-zhu-tan in Hunan province, with technological and industrial superiority, is devoted to creating the “Maglev Capital of China”.
Maglev transportation is favored by many cities at home and abroad due to its comprehensive advantages of low construction cost, short construction cycle, and less land occupation. it is reported that more than 200 delegations from 35 countries and regions have visited Hunan to investigate maglev rail transit. with benefit of demonstration effect of the Changsha maglev line, approximately 30 cities in China are implementing or planning to launch the maglev project. The project with a speed from 120 -160 km/h maglev trains are highlighted by many cities. At present, Hunan, as the pioneer of maglev transportation, has started the planning of a magnetic rail network in the province.
Zhou Qinghe, Chairman and Party Secretary of CRRC ZELC, said that CRRC ZELC will take the responsibility of building China’s strength in science and and transportation, and enhancing the technical level of China’s maglev transportation equipment through continuous independent innovation to provide green and intelligent public transport system solution to global customers with China's maglev, a new “national business card”.