China's first high-speed commuter train rolls off production line

China's very first high-speed commuter train officially came off the production line of China Railway Rolling Stock Corp (CRRC) Qingdao Sifang Co, Ltd. on March 31, ready to fill a gap in the country's commuter railway offerings.

Commuter rails are a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates between the city centers and suburbs of major metropolises. Offering both speed and capacity, commuter rail systems normally cover routes stretching between 50 and 100 kilometers.

According to He Danlu, senior designer at CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co, Ltd., the commuter high-speed train is specifically tailored for urban usage, and it combines the features of high-speed trains with those of subway cars. It is able to satisfy requirements for speed, capacity, public transportation and comfort.

The new commuter trains are able to run at a maximum speed of 140 kilometers per hour, about four times the speed of subways. The average speed is around 55 kilometers per hour, though that figure goes up to 80 when the train runs between major stations that are far apart. The new system is expected to be put into service in Wenzhou city in southeast China in 2018.