Innovative elevated tracks

To preserve China's precious land resources, the entire extent of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed line uses elevated tracks.

The MOR said the bridges on the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway are designed to last 100 years. Engineering staff also had to overcome subsidence of the bridges. In Japan a subsidence period of 20 years is allowed. But on the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway no subsidence period is permissible.

New technologies were also developed for high-speed railway bridges spanning large rivers or bodies of water, as reflected by the Jinan Yellow River Bridge. Located in Jinan, Shandong Province, the bridge is 5,143.4 meters long. During the design and construction process, China Railway First Group Co. Ltd., one of the bridge's main contractors, developed 10 innovations and procedures, including designing and construction of large-span trestles, to complete the task, the MOR said.

Wireless tech

Since the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway is the world's first high-speed railway with a designed speed of 380 km an hour, China was on its own in developing a communication signal control system for its fast trains.

Designing, construction, testing and operation maintenance of the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway were all developed by domestic companies. The MOR said application software for the dispatching system was designed by China Railway Signal and Communication Corp. and manufactured in factories in Beijing, Tianjin and Xi'an, and the system utilizes equipment of international standards or locally made equipment.

The Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway also has the world's most advanced wireless communication and control technology—the China High-Speed Railway Automatic Control System. Through a central command center, all procedures involving operational controls are fully automated by computers to remove human error. The information system provides rail conditions 32 km ahead of the train's current location. If a train suddenly slows after traveling at top speed, trains behind it will receive commands via advanced wireless communication control technology to decelerate accordingly and maintain a safe distance.

High-Speed Rail Timeline

December 1990: The Ministry of Railways (MOR) works out a proposal for the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway.

December 1994: The State Council approves a feasibility study of the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway; the MOR sets up an office for the feasibility study.

October 1998-April 2000: The former State Planning Commission entrusts China International Engineering Consulting Corp. to assess the preliminary feasibility report.

January 2000: The MOR cooperates with China International Engineering Consulting Corp. to complete an appraisal report comparing high-speed wheel-rail technology and high-speed magnetic suspension technology.

September 2003: China International Engineering Consulting Corp. holds an appraisal meeting for the high-speed line, assessing the necessities of the railway and comparing rail technologies. It concludes high-speed wheel-rail technology is the best choice for the project.

December 2003-July 2005: International consultation on the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway is completed.

February 22, 2006: The State Council approves the construction of the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway.

May-November 2006: China International Engineering Consulting Corp., entrusted by the National Development and Reform Commission, completes its assessment of the feasibility report.

August 29, 2007: The State Council approves the feasibility report.

October 22, 2007: The State Council sets up a leading group for the construction of the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway.

December 27, 2007: The Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway Corp. is established.

April 18, 2008: Construction of the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway begins.

November 15, 2010: Track-laying for the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway is completed.

December 3, 2010: A CRH380A train reaches a speed of 486.1 km an hour during a trial run, becoming the world's fastest train.

February 20, 2011: The 645-km section from Zaozhuang, Shandong Province, to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station begins integrated trial runs.

May 11, 2011: The Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway begins a one-month trial operation along its entire route.