China has unveiled its fastest train, capable of hitting 500km/h, a reminder that the country’s high-speed rail plans have only been partially checked by a fatal accident earlier this year.
The train, a test version which is not yet ready to enter commercial service, is a marker of China’s ambitions to lead the world in ultra-fast train technology. It was built by domestic companies without any foreign input, according to state media, a contrast to the country’s earlier generations of high-speed trains, which were developed through partnerships with global manufacturers.
But it also comes as the government scales back its rail investment plans amid concerns that it has moved too hastily to build up its high-speed train network, valuing speed over safety. That tension was present in the announcement of the new train model.