In the 1970s, the trains we took were converted from freight trains. It took a whole day to travel from Wuxi to Shanghai, a distance of 150 kilometers. The journey was filled with constant clunking noises. But now, it only takes 40 minutes by high-speed rail.” said Mr. Guan, a railway worker. From 1978 to 2024, the progress of China’s railways has been astounding. The operational mileage of the railways has grown from 52,000 kilometers to nearly 160,000 kilometers today, and high-speed rail has achieved a leap from non-existence to widespread adoption.
China’s rail transit, the inheritance of craftsmanship
In casting process of key components for China’s high-speed railway industry, smelting is a core and arduous task. In environment exceeding 40°C, workers must meticulously pour parts from molten iron of 1500°C, which requires highly skilled craftsmanship and immense patience. Zhang Jianyun, a senior technician in smelting in CRRC Qishuyan Institute Co., Ltd., has of experience in casting over 20 years. “Castings are living beings, turning them into scrap means killing their life.” In Zhang’s mind, pouring near-perfect castings is the most important thing in his life. For this reason, he tirelessly overcomes technical challenges. Under his leadership, his team has solved a series of technical difficulties related to the material and casting process of the gearbox case for the Fuxing high-speed train, making significant contributions to the mass production, cost reduction and efficiency enhancement of China’s rail transit components. This also provides strong support for the export of rail transit components with guaranteed quality and quantity.
China’s rail transit, a cradle of intelligent innovation
The rapid development of Changzhou’s rail transit industry owes much not only to skilled technicians like Zhang Jianyun but also to enterprises gathered in Changzhou that focus on intelligent innovation. In 1936, the relocation of Shanghai Wusong Machinery Plant to Changzhou became a key factor in the gradual growth and expansion of the rail transit industry here. The entry of leading companies such as CRRC Qishuyan Company, CRRC Qishuyan Institute, Centuray and Baiyidar has formed a complete industrial chain for the production and maintenance services of traction power and key components for rail transit, laying a solid foundation for the development of Changzhou’s rail transit. The establishment of Jiangsu Qishuyan Rail Transit Industrial Park has raisen this industrial chain to new heights. Led by flagship enterprises, numerous technologically advanced and competitive companies have collectively propelled the rapid development of China’s rail transit. With the rapid expansion of the industry, the Changzhou cluster of rail transit traction power and key component industries has been selected in the national innovative industrial cluster pilot (cultivation) list, and has received a series of national honors including the national high-end equipment manufacturing standardization pilot park and the national five-star new industrialization industrial demonstration base. These honors not only enhance the strength of Changzhou’s rail transit industry but also inject new vitality into the rapid development of China’s rail transit.
Today, about 80% of China’s “Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal” high-speed rail network main channels have been built and put into operation. The construction of high-speed rail lines has significantly reduced the distances between cities, making social activities more convenient and efficient for people. At the same time, high-speed rail has strengthened economic connections between regions, providing strong support for China’s economic development. As an important part of China’s rail transit development, Changzhou rail transit will continue to inject intelligent manufacturing momentum into China’s speed, helping China lead the world. On the international stage, China’s high-speed rail has become a bright symbol showcasing China’s innovation capability, manufacturing strength, and technological level, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to the improvement and upgrade of global transportation infrastructure. Looking forward, we have every reason to believe that this “giant dragon” will continue to carry people’s dreams and hopes towards an even more brilliant and beautiful future.