The CR450 high-speed train prototype, equipped with high-speed wheels from Magang (Group) Holding Co., Ltd. (Masteel), a subsidiary of China Baowu Steel Group Corporation Limited (China Baowu), was recently unveiled in Beijing.
With a test speed of up to 450 kilometers per hour and an operational speed of 400 km/h, the CR450 is the fastest high-speed train in the world.
In collaboration with China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., CRRC Corporation Limited, and the China Academy of Railway Sciences Corporation Limited, Masteel played a pivotal role in addressing key technical challenges in the CR450 project.
The company developed high-speed wheels that met stringent standards and participated in retrofitting tests for 400 km/h high-speed trains.
Test results demonstrated that the CR450 prototype equipped with Masteel’s wheels achieved a 20 percent improvement in braking performance and a 3 percent increase in traction efficiency. This breakthrough allowed the train’s operating speed to increase from 350 km/h to 400 km/h while maintaining consistent braking distances, interior noise and energy consumption.
In recent years, Masteel has undertaken large-scale intelligent upgrades to its wheel production lines, significantly improving product consistency and stability to ensure the safety and reliability of China’s high-speed rail operations.
Moving forward, Masteel will actively support China Railway in conducting comprehensive tests and assessments of the CR450 prototype, further optimizing the performance of its wheels and contributing to the train’s early commercial deployment.
(Executive editor: Zhu Zeya)
