China Railway CRH2

On October 20, 2004, the Ministry of Railway in China ordered 60 sets of CRH2A trains from Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan. Along with 60 sets of Bombardier's Regina-based CRH1A, and 40 sets of Alstom's Pendolino-based CRH5A, these train sets are consider as first batch of CRH trains.

Each of the CRH2A set consists of 8 cars. The first 3 sets (CRH₂-001A - CRH₂-003A) were built in Japan, the next 6 sets (CRH₂-004A - CRH₂-009A) were delivered in complete knock down form and assembled by CSR Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock. The remaining 51 sets (CRH₂-010A - CRH₂-060A) were built by Sifang through technology transfer from Japan.

The first train arrived at Qingdao port on March 8, 2006, with little fanfare, and was not even publicized in China. These trains have a maximum operation speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) and started providing high-speed train service from April 18, 2007, the date of the sixth national railway speed-up.

According to Chinese and Japanese media, CRH2A trains started test trials ahead of commercial operation on the Shanghai-Hangzhou and Shanghai-Nanjing lines on January 28, 2007.

On September 14, 2010, the Chinese MOR ordered additional 40 sets of CRH2A trains (CRH₂-151A - CRH₂-190A) from CSR Sifang.

In November 2007, the Ministry of Railway in China ordered 10 CRH2 sets with 16 cars per set (8M8T). These trains have been given designations CRH2B (CRH₂-111B - CRH₂-120B). Each CRH2B has three 1st seating cars (ZY), twelve 2nd seating cars (ZE), and one dining car (CA). Designed maximum operation speed is 250 km/h (155 mph) with a power of 9,600 kW (12,874 hp).

The first units were delivered on June 29, 2008,^[2][3] and came into service on the Hefei–Nanjing Passenger Railway on August 1, 2008.^[4]

After the introduction of the modified E2-1000 Series, Sifang built its own CRH2 with a maximum safe operating speed of 350 km/h (217 mph). The original train sets imported from Kawasaki had a maximum safe operating speed of 250 km/h (160 mph).

During June 2005 and September 2005, The Chinese Ministry of Railways launched bidding for High speed trains with a top speed over 300 km/h (186 mph). Along with Siemens's Velaro-based CRH3C, CSR Sifang bid 60 sets of CRH2C, includes 30 sets of CRH2C stage one with a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph), and 30 sets of CRH2C stage two with a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph).

In development and research of the 350 km/h (217 mph) high speed train, The CRH2-300 project was launched by Chinese MOR and CSR. In 2006 the China Development Bank provided CNY 15 billion developmental financial loans to CSR Group for the projects of 200–300 km/h (124–186 mph) high speed trains.^[5] Over 50 academics, 150,000 technicians, 600 contractors were involved in the project.^[6] This train's livery is not like the CRH2A, which the blue stripe does not end at the fronts of trainsets.

CRH2C Stage one is a modified version of CRH2A. It has a maximum operating speed up to 300 km/h (186 mph) by replacing two intermediate trailer cars with motorized cars. Equipped with an array of the state-of-the-art technologies, including aluminum alloy body with a reduced weight, high speed turntable, high speed pantograph, and optic-fiber based integrated control system.^[7]

Chinese MOR ordered 30 sets of CRH2C stage one, name code CRH₂-061C - CRH₂-090C. The first set, CRH₂-061C was unveiled on December 22, 2007.^[8][9]

During the test on April 22, 2008, CRH₂-061C reached a top speed of over 370 km/h (230 mph) on Beijing-Tianjin high-speed rail.^[10]

During the test on December 11, 2009, CRH₂-061C reached a top speed of 394.2 km/h (244.9 mph) on Zhengzhou-Xi'an high-speed rail.^[11]

Together with CRH3C, the CRH2C stage one first came into service on Beijing-Tianjin Intercity high-speed rail on August 1, 2008, and all CRH2C stage one trains have been replaced by CRH3C in April, 2009. Currently, most of these trains are serving on the Shanghai-Nanjing high speed rail.

CRH2C Stage two is the "re-design" version of the CRH2. Some of the details, like the aluminum body structure, noise reduction technology & reduction technique, draw on the CRH3C.And cancelled the driver's door. According to CSR Sifang, the improvements include the following aspects:

• The axle weight of the bogie increased from 14 to 15 tonnes (30,865 to 33,069 lb), to prevent tremble of the train body at a higher speed,^[6] the gear ratio has been optimized from 3.036 to 2.379, the critical instability speed is 550 km/h (340 mph).
• The thermal capacity of the bogie has been increased, which satisfied the continuous operation at 350 km/h (217 mph)
• With the YQ-365 type AC traction motor. It has a maximum operating speed up to 350 km/h (217 mph) with a power of 8,760 kW (11,747 hp).
• The rigidity of the car body has been increased to lower the noise and vibration.
• Optimized car body and window design for better air tightness and strength.
• Added pressure protection system to avoid pressure fluctuation in the compartment and improvement of comfort.
• Optimized design of the roof antenna, exterior windscreen and windows for a lower air resistance.^[12]

Chinese MOR ordered 30 sets of CRH2C stage two, name code CRH₂-091C - CRH₂-110C and CRH₂-141C - CRH₂-150C. The first set, CRH₂-091C was unveiled in January 2010 and came into service on Zhengzhou-Xi'an high-speed rail in February, 2010.^[13]

In November and December 2007, the Ministry of Railway in China ordered 20 CRH2 sleeper trains with 16 cars per set (8M8T). These trains are modified CRH2Bs, outfitted with traditional railway sleeping berths (couchette car) and have been given designations CRH2E (numbered CRH2-121E - CRH2-140E).Each CRH2E has thirteen 1st class sleeping cars (WR), two 2nd class seating cars (ZE), and one buffet car (CA) or one second class/dining car (ZEC). Designed maximum operation speed is 250 km/h (155 mph) with 9,600 kW (12,874 hp) of power output.

The first batch of CRH2E, CRH2-121E - CRH2-126E, came into service on Beijing-Shanghai railway on December 21, 2008.^[2][14] On 23 July 2011, one sleeper coach on CRH2-139E trainset has been derailed in the 2011 Wenzhou train collision, together with CRH1-046B.

The rest of CRH2Es were deployed on Beijing–Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong High-Speed Railway since January 2015, operating overnight sleeper trains between Beijing and Guangzhou (including some trains to Shenzhen).

A brand new variant of the CRH2E entered service in 2017 numbered beyond CRH2E-2463.^[15][16] Instead of a traditional railway sleeping berth the sleeper train is organized with the corridor running down the middle of the train car with double deck "capsules" on each side.^[17] Each capsule is similar in layout to airplane first class, and passengers are no longer sharing the room. Each capsule comes with independent tables, outlets, lamps, hangers and curtains. The body of the train is redesigned to reduce noise levels during travel. The trains have been dubbed "moving hotels".^[18]

• 
  Front
• 
  Exterior
• 
  Interior
• 
  Leaving Beijing South

CRH2G is a specialized cold and sand/windstorm resistant version of the CRH2 manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang. The trains were tested on the Lanzhou–Xinjiang HSR and Harbin–Dalian HSR.^[19] Tests where completed on November 10, 2015, and the first sets were assigned to Lanzhou–Xinjiang HSR.^[20]

In 2008, the Chinese MOR & CSR launched CRH2-380 project, the main purpose is to develop new-generation of high speed trains with maximum operation speed of 380 km/h (236 mph). CRH2 is one of the fundamental platforms of the new trains, which is designated as CRH380A.

• 
  First Class Coach
• 
  Second Class Coach
• 
  Buffet Car
• 
  The buffet car of the CRH2E
• 
  Compartment Connection

At the time of the sixth national railway speed-up, at least 37 CRH2A sets had been delivered by Kawasaki and Sifang.^[21] In 2008, all 60 CRH2A sets had been delivered by Kawasaki. The post-2008 production model of the CRH2 are designed and made solely by Sifang with a maximum safe operation speed of 350 km/h (217 mph).^[1]

• ^1 Other train sets
• ^2 Set Nº. 2006, 2011 and 2021
• ^3 Set Nº. 2015, 2027 and 2030
• ^4 Set Nº. 2042
• ^5 Set Nº. 2043
• ^6 Set Nº. 2044–2060
• ^7 Set Nº. 2151–2211. Coach No. 3 has 16 First Class Seats and 43 Second Class seats
• ^8 Set Nº. 2212–2416, 2427–2460, 2473–2499, 2828, 4001–4071, 4082–4095 and 4114–4131

• ^1 Set Nº. 2001–2009, 2011–2060 and 2151–2211
• ^2 Set Nº. 2212–2416, 2427–2460, 2473–2499, 2828, 4001–4071, 4082–4095 and 4114–4131

• Set Nº. 2111–2120, 2466–2472 and 4096–4105

• ^1 Set Nº. 2062–2067 and 2069–2090
• ^2 Set Nº. 2091–2110 and 2141–2149

• ^1 Set Nº. 2121–2138 and 2140
• ^2 Set Nº. 2461 and 2462
• ^3 Set Nº. 2463–2465

• Set Nº. 2417–2426, 4072–4081 and 4106–4113

On July 23, two bullet trains were traveling in the same direction and the train in front, the CRH 1-046B was stopped by a or a faulty signal hit by lightning. The light that the second train was supposed to stop at was hit by lightning, malfunctioned and showed a green signal while it was supposed to be red. The second train was a CRH 2-139E. The CRH2 front cars fell off the viaduct and one standing at a 90° angle between the viaduct and the ground. The cars that fell to the ground are cars 1-3 and the fourth one was the one standing.

As of April 2024^[update]:

• China Railway CRH380A
• China Railway CRH6
• China Railway CR300AF
• China Railway CR300BF
• China Railway CIT trains
• E2 Series Shinkansen
• List of high-speed trains

• Media related to China Railways CRH2 at Wikimedia Commons