China - January 08, 2025 China unveils prototype of bullet train with operational speed of 400 km/h (Voice_over) China Railway has debuted a new high-speed bullet-train that's expected to shorten travel times and make passengers more comfortable. The CR450 is 50 kilometers per hour faster and 10 percent lighter than its predecessor, the CR400. Plus, engineers say, its sharp-nosed front was designed for maximum aerodynamics. (Sound_bite) Li Xufeng, General manager, China Academy of Railway Sciences: "You can see the wheels here. Originally, the entire bogie of the CR350 was exposed, but now that of CR450 is fully covered by the shell structure. It aligns with the design philosophy of our advanced fighter jets, aiming to allow the train to operate more smoothly at high speeds." (Voice_over) The new train model focuses on passenger comfort, engineers say, with four percent more cabin space, and less noise. (Sound_bite) Nie Ying, Senior project engineer, CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co.,Ltd.: "We have now employed some intelligent methods to relocate some of these power distribution facilities for undercarriage installation. Furthermore, we have implemented intelligent upgrades, streamlined numerous components, and increased the storage space for large luggage by 138 percent." (Voice_over) According to official data, as of September of 2024, China's high-speed rail network exceeded 46,000 kilometers, accounting for over 70 percent of high-speed railway networks worldwide. [Restriction: No access Chinese mainland]