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Wuhan-Guangzhou high speed railway on trial operation
(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-12-01 15:38
The Wuhan-Guangzhou high speed railway, which will shorten travel time from ten hours to three, will start a trial operation on December 20, www.ycwb.com reported.
It is the world's first 350-km per hour ballastless track. The train can reach speeds of 350 km per hour and can cover a 1,068.6-km distance.
Thousands of police officers have been sent to inspect the entire railway to ensure its safety, according to reports.
Such a high speed is reportedly fast enough to cause a "train whirl", which can draw people nearby into the bottom of the train. Furthermore, when the train is at its top speed, a 0.5 kg block will cause a 500 kg wallop, which can overturn the train instantly. The thirty thousand volt electricity net along the route can also pose danger to those nearby.
