The first test train that can reach speeds of up to 500 km an hour stands on a railway line in Qingdao, Shandong province, on Thursday. Dou Xin / Xinhua

Beijing - China's largest train maker, CSR Corp Ltd, launched over the weekend its first test train that can reach speeds of up to 500 km an hour.

The six-carriage train with a tapered head is the newest member of the CRH series. It has a maximum drawing power of 22,800 kilowatts, compared with 9,600 kilowatts for the CRH380 trains now in service on the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, which hold the world speed record of 300 km per hour.

The gray train, which has testing and data processing equipment on board, was designed and produced by CSR's Sifang Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co, a subsidiary based in the coastal city of Qingdao in Shandong province.

Ding Sansan, the company's chief technician, said the concept of the super-speed train design was inspired by the ancient Chinese sword. The bodywork uses plastic material reinforced with carbon fiber.

The Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Science and Technology approved the overall plan of the high-speed test train in January after it was reviewed by a team organized by the two ministries.

The test train is based on revisions to the CRH 380A - regarding the shape of the front, body, engine and brake systems - intended to increase the speed, promote the engine power and decrease the drag force.

The streamlined shape of the test train's front and the special design of its rear were expected to decrease drag.

Many high-tech materials, including carbon fiber, magnesium alloy and sound insulation materials, have been used in the train.

Shen Zhiyun, a locomotive expert and academician with both the Chinese academies of sciences and engineering, said the testing of the train will provide useful reference for current high-speed railway operations.

Xinhua - China Daily