China Builds the World’s Fastest High-Speed Train. Europe Is Just Watching.
- Thomas
- May 15
- 2 min read
As I write these lines, I'm sitting on a German ICE train from Cologne to Frankfurt Airport. The train is on time, the Wi-Fi works, and I’ve got a hot coffee. That shouldn’t be worth mentioning—but if you’ve ever taken a train in Germany, you know this is the exception.
Most of us here never risk taking trains to important meetings. Will you arrive late? Will you arrive at all? It’s a lottery. Everyone in Germany would be happy if trains were just reliable.
Faster? Greener? More innovative? Those are foreign words in the European railway industry.
Meanwhile in China: 400 km/h Is the New Normal
Beijing recently unveiled the CR450. This next-generation high-speed train sets a new benchmark—not just for China, but globally.
It reached 453 km/h (281 mph) in tests and will soon operate commercially at 400 km/h (249 mph).
For comparison:
🇩🇪 ICE – 300 km/h
🇫🇷 TGV – 320 km/h
🇯🇵 Shinkansen – 320 km/h
A Technical Masterpiece
This train isn’t just faster—it’s smarter, quieter, and greener:
10% lighter carriages thanks to carbon fiber materials, reducing energy use despite higher speeds.
22% lower resistance through aerodynamic upgrades, including a sharper nose.
2 decibels quieter interiors and 4% more passenger space, including new areas for wheelchairs and strollers.
And Europe?
While Asia races ahead, Europe watches from the platform.
Yes, Europe has world-class train systems. But innovation has stalled—slowed down by regulations, fragmented networks, and sluggish procurement.
Meanwhile, China is not only building the trains of tomorrow—it’s already running them today.
What Do You Think? Will Europe catch up? Or will Asia dominate high-speed rail for decades to come?
Let me know your thoughts! 🚄🌏
Stay curious,
Thomas
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