China has unveiled the CR450‐series bullet train, which recently achieved a top speed of 281 mph (450 km/h) during pre-service trials on the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu high-speed rail corridor. The CR450 was designed for commercial speeds of around 249 mph (400 km/h), but its test performance surpasses current operational records.

Engineered by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), the train features several advanced design elements: a longer 15-metre nose cone, fully enclosed bogies and a lower roofline, which together reduce aerodynamic drag by approximately 22%. It also accelerates from 0 to 350 km/h (217 mph) in just 4 minutes and 40 seconds—more than a minute faster than its predecessor models. 
Commercial service for the CR450 is slated for 2026, after the train completes required testing and operations of around 600,000 km. This milestone signals China’s growing leadership in ultra-high-speed rail and reflects a strategic push to shift from “Made in China” to “Created in China”.

In short: with the CR450, China is setting a new global benchmark for speed rail—one that could reshape expectations of ground-based transportation and challenge airports on certain corridors.