A CRH2G bullet train, which can withstand extreme weather, strong wind and sand, makes a test run on the Lanzhou-Urumqi high-speed rail line.
CRRC will put high-speed trains into operation by the end of the year that can run in adverse weather conditions and extremely low temperatures.
On 10 Nov. 2015 CRRC received approval from the National Railway Administration for the CRH2G high-speed train, which can operate in temperatures as low as -40℃ and also in sandstorms and strong winds. In addition, it can be used in altitudes as high as 3,600meters. The CRH2G train can run up to 250 kilometers per hour.
The new bullet trains were developed after three years of research and development.
Qingdao Sifang Co Ltd, a CRRC subsidiary, will make the trains, which 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 Uygur autonomous region. The CRH2G will provide more adaptable options for domestic bullet train networks in deserts and plateaus.
In Xinjiang, a region with an arid climate, the railway passes through four major high-wind areas. The biggest challenge in operating a high-speed train in the region is how to cope with strong winds that bring sand and dust.
A normal train that runs between Lanzhou and Urumqi has to be cleaned every three days. The new model, however, 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.
China has built a high-speed railway network of about 17,000 kilometers, accounting for more than 60 percent of the world's total.
