China launches Cutting-edge ‘panda’ trains that can travel in extreme weather conditions

Two brand-new high speed trains that are able to endure atrocious weather conditions in the alpine environment were officially rolled off the production line on Friday by Chinese train-maker CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co. Ltd in Changchun, northeast China’s Jilin Province.

The trains, also known as “pandas” — its two headlights are akin to the dark circle around the pandas’ eyes — are “China’s first two bullet trains that are capable of traveling in the extremely cold and windy weather conditions,” said Bi Kai, the train’s design manager.

He further said that the trains could endure a long-time stable running even at a temperature of -40℃ because of the cutting-edge technology in its hauling and braking systems.

Equipped with convertible seats in dozens of carriages, the trains will enable passengers to sit and sleep at their own will in the booth instead of lying on the narrow sleeping berth since getting aboard.

The trains are also equipped with multiple power sockets, USB ports, as well as WiFi.

The trains can accommodate up to 900 people and are scheduled to be on the tracks from Harbin in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province to central China’s Wuhan and south China’s Shenzhen at a speed of up to 250 km/hour.

Source: CCTV