CRRC CF600 (Sifang)
The CRRC CF600 is a Chinese high-speed maglev designed for 600 km/h and based on German Transrapid technology. It was unveiled in Qingdao in May 2019.
Transrapid technology for 600 km/h
At its core, the CF600 is a Transrapid, further developed for 600 km/h.
In 2016, China officially announced the development of a maglev capable of 600 km/h. In May 2019, the state-owned CRRC Sifang Co. Ltd. presented the vehicle to the public for the first time in Qingdao.
It was clear from the unveiling that this was Transrapid technology, as all vehicle components are identical to those of the Transrapid. This was confirmed again in early 2020, when a middle section of the CF600 went into testing on the Tongji track. Other Transrapid replicas, including the CM1 Dolphin, had been tested there before.
Key facts
- Year built
- 2018–present
- Operation
- not yet
- Company
- CRRC Sifang
- Route
- none yet
- System
- Synchronous long-stator linear motor
- Air gap
- 10 mm
- Rated speed
- 600 km/h
- Top speed reached
- not yet known
- Vehicle units built
- 1
- End sections built
- 3
- Middle sections built
- 3
- Empty weight
- unknown
- Payload
- unknown
- Seats
- unknown
- Standing room
- –
- Length
- 130.7 m (5 sections)
- Width
- 3.7 m
- Height
- 4 m
Cooperation with German companies
CRRC publicly claims to have developed the vehicle on its own. That is only partly true, as it is largely based on German patents. As early as 2013, it became known that ThyssenKrupp was opening a joint research center with Chinese institutes. In 2018, ThyssenKrupp and CRRC followed up with an official cooperation focused on transport, maglev technology and smart technologies.
The search for a route
There is no dedicated route for the CF600 yet. Technically, it would be compatible with the Transrapid line in Shanghai (SMT). The operations control technology does not match, however: Shanghai runs on Siemens technology, while CRRC has developed its own platform.
In early March 2021, it emerged that CRRC is considering reactivating the Transrapid Test Facility Emsland in northwestern Germany. In parallel, new routes are being proposed and examined in China. An extension of the SMT line is considered likely, but exactly where remains open.
Images
