HSR-350x
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
HSR-350x | |
---|---|
A frontal sideway view of the HSR-350x prototype high-speed rail train that broke the 350 km/h mark on December 2004. |
|
Korean name | |
Hangul: |
한국형 고속철도
|
Hanja: |
韓國形 高速鐵道
|
Revised Romanization: | Han-gukhyung Gosok Cheoldo |
McCune-Reischauer: | Han-gukhyung Kosok Ch'ŏlto |
HSR-350x (한국형 고속철도, high-speed rail 350x), also known as Korean G-7 (Korean G7), is the experimental high speed train which is recently developed and created purely and independently by South Korea. The main motivation is to reduce traffic problem and to pull up the nation's science and technology to the level of world's top seven leaders known as the G-7 (currently it is G-8, not G-7). This explains why HSR-350x is also known as "Korean G-7" or "G7" as a short form.
Contents |
[edit] Train overview
South Korean engineers began working on a High Speed Rail project in 1995, a couple of years before the arrival of French TGV technology. However, Korea has always had ambitions to develop HSR technology independently. Rotem and the National Rail Technology Institute of Korea have been researching and developing High Speed rolling stock for for 10 years, under the name of HSR-350x. HSR-350 was intended to run 350 km/h (217 mph) in regular service, which is 50 km/h faster than its rival, the TGV-based KTX, whose commercial speed is (300 km/h, 186 mph). Although globally dominant along with the Japanese Shinkansen technology, Alstom's TGV system does not incorporate some recent Korean technological innovations, such as an aluminum body, digital traffic control and a pressure compensation system. Due to the complaints about fixed-direction seats, the HSR-350x's seats are rotatable. HSR-350x is nearing the end of its development and is expected to be available by the end of 2007.
[edit] Expectations
HSR-350x developement project period is well planned to cover five years, with budget of US$ 42.9 million in total. They expect to develop the Gyeongbu Line's HSR technology, and the increase for the export, and decrease for the import.[1]
[edit] Speed
During the first test, this train did not reach 100 km/h. After years of work and testing, however, at 1:20 a.m. on December 16, 2004, the G7 cut through the early morning fog between the Chonan and Shintanjin corridor, just exceeding 350 km/h (217 mph). The prototype, built by KRRI (Korean Railroad Research Institute), passed the mark of 350 km/h, reaching up to 352.4 km/h (218.9 mph) which was viewed on the screen, breaking the past record of 343.5 km/h (213 mph) on its trial run.[1]
[edit] National and international connections
According to UIC, "high-speed train" is a train that runs at over 250 km/h on dedicated tracks, or over 200 km/h on upgraded conventional tracks.[2] On the other hand, Korean media seems to define "high-speed train" as a train that runs at over 300 km/h. Under Korean definition, Korea would be the seventh country to originally develop one (albeit still in experimental stage), after France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Spain, and possibly China (PRC) (in experimental stage)[3], although KRRI, as well as Korean media, state Korea is the fourth nation in the world to develop high-speed trains independently (after France, Germany, and Japan).[4] Korea, in 2006, is the one of seven leading nations in HSR technology (France, Germany, Japan, Italy, South Korea, Spain, and possibly USA). After winning successfully at the bid, six of 10-unit set G-7 trains will be introduced and delivered on Honam Line by 2008. The future goal for Korean is to become one of the top four largest HSR producers in the world, by offering Korean HSR product to China, Taiwan, and America.[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ a b KRRI: Korean High-speed train. Korean Railroad Research Institute (2004-12-12.). Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
- ^ General definitions of highspeed. UIC (2006-11-28). Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
- ^ China Star completes rigorous test programme: China's first indigenous high-speed train, China Star, has successfully completed a rigorous series of tests and trial operation. International Railway Journal (2005-11).
- ^ Korea High Speed Rail streaks past 350km. Korean Railroad Research Institute (2004-12-12). Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
- ^ HSR-350x emerged first runner up at High speed train bid. Korean Railroad Research Institute (2005-12-22). Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
[edit] External links
Korea Railroad Research institute
High-speed trains: Acela Express • AVE • InterCityExpress • JR-Maglev MLX01 • HST • HSR-350x • Pendolino • Shinkansen • TGV • Transrapid • Treno Alta Velocità • X2000 |
||
High-speed lines: Beijing-Tianjin • CTRL (London-Channel Tunnel) • Cologne-Aachen Cologne-Frankfurt • French LGV lines • Hanover-Würzburg • Northeast Corridor (Boston-Washington DC) Nuremberg-Ingolstadt • HSL 1 (Brussels-Paris) • HSL 2 (Leuven-Ans) • HSL 3 (Liège-Aachen) HSL 4 (Brussels-Netherlands) • HSL-Zuid (Netherlands) • Japanese Shinkansen lines |
||
By country: Argentina • Belgium • Canada • China • France • Germany • Italy • Japan • Korea (South) • Norway • Portugal • Spain • Taiwan (ROC) • Turkey • United Kingdom • United States (CA · FL · NY · TX · Midwest · Southeast · Northeast) • Other |