China Railway CRH5

CRH5 Hexie

Company type	Electric multiple unit train
Industry	Railway transportation
Predecessor	China Star, DJF3
Founded	2007
Headquarters	China
Area served	Northern regions of China
Key people	Alstom, Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd.
Products	High-speed trains (CRH5A, CRH5E, CRH5G/H variants)
Parent	China Railway High-speed

The CRH5 Hexie () is a high-speed electric multiple unit train operated by China Railway High-speed throughout northern regions of China. This model, derived from Italy’s ETR-600 New Pendolino, is a non-tilting design developed through technology transfer agreements with Chinese manufacturers.

Capable of reaching speeds up to , the CRH5 operates on both major high-speed and conventional rail corridors, playing a vital role in enhancing regional connectivity and increasing transport capacity. Production of 140 trainsets (totaling 1120 cars) began in 2007 as a collaborative effort between Alstom and Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd., replacing older rolling stock such as the China Star and DJF3 models.

The CRH5 is engineered with a focus on dependability and operational efficiency, utilizing Alstom’s IGBT VVVF inverter traction system that delivers a power output of . Configured as an eight-car set, it accommodates up to 622 fixed seats, maximizing passenger throughput on heavily trafficked northern routes. It runs on China’s standard 25 kV AC electrification system and incorporates regenerative braking alongside electronically controlled pneumatic brakes to optimize energy use and ensure safety.

CRH5A

In 2004, the Ministry of Railway of China awarded contracts to Alstom and CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles for the production of 60 trainsets with a top speed of , designated as CRH5A. These orders were placed alongside those for the Regina-based CRH1A and the Shinkansen-derived CRH2A. Subsequent procurement included 30 additional sets in 2009, 20 in 2010, and another 30 in 2011, completing the fleet serving northern and eastern China.

The initial three trainsets were manufactured by Alstom in Italy; six more arrived as complete knock-down kits assembled by CNR Changchun. The remaining 51 units were produced domestically under technology transfer agreements from Alstom. The first CRH5-001A set left Savigliano, Italy in December 2006 and reached Dalian by January 2007. The first unit assembled entirely in China (CRH5-010A) was delivered in April 2007.

CRH5A trains commenced operation on April 18, 2007, coinciding with the sixth national railway speed-up initiative on the Beijing-Harbin route. Service later expanded to include lines such as Jinan-Qingdao and Shijiazhuang-Taiyuan high-speed railways.

Each original eight-car formation comprised one first-class car (ZY), six second-class cars (ZE), and one combined second-class/dining car (ZEC). Later versions adjusted this layout to include two first-class cars alongside six second-class cars.

Initial deployment encountered some reliability issues due to the integration of new technologies and limited pre-delivery testing.

CRH5E

The CRH5E variant consists of cold-resistant high-speed sleeper trains equipped with traditional railway sleeping berths (couchette car), designed specifically for overnight journeys in severe climatic conditions.

CRH5G/H

The CRH5G represents a specialized adaptation engineered for resistance against cold temperatures as well as sand and windstorms. Manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, this model serves the Baoji–Lanzhou high-speed railway, providing enhanced operational reliability under extreme environmental conditions.

CIT001

On April 2, 2007, the China Academy of Railway Sciences launched a high-speed test train based on the CRH5 platform, designated as the Code Zero Comprehensive Testing Train (CIT001). This train, fitted with state-of-the-art monitoring equipment for track condition, wheel-rail interaction, overhead catenary, communication, and signaling systems, commenced its trial runs on July 1, 2007.

Formation

Power Car Designations

• M – Motorized car
• T – Non-powered trailer car
• C – Cab car with driver controls
• P – Pantograph-equipped car

Coach Classifications

• ZY – First Class Coach
• ZE – Second Class Coach
• ZEC – Second Class Coach with Buffet Section
• WR – Soft Sleeper Coach
• WRC – Soft Sleeper Coach with Buffet Section

CRH5A / CRH5G

Coach No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
TypeTemplate:Ref	ZE					ZEC	ZE	ZY
TypeTemplate:Ref	ZY	ZE				ZEC	ZE	ZY
TypeTemplate:Ref	ZY	ZE			ZEC	ZE
Power Configuration	M | TP | M | T | TP | M | MC
Power Units	Unit 1				Unit 2
CapacityTemplate:Ref	colspan="4" | 93 | 42 | 74 | 60
CapacityTemplate:Ref	colspan="4" | 90 | 40 | 74 | 56
CapacityTemplate:Ref	colspan="2" | 90 | 77 | 63 | colspan="2" | 90 | 65

• Trains numbered CRH5A-5001 to CRH5A-5012 and CRH5A-5043 to CRH5A-5053
• Trains numbered CRH5A-5013 to CRH5A-5042 and CRH5A-5054 to CRH5A-5140
• Trains numbered CRH5G-5141 to CRH5G-5200 and CRH5G-5206 to CRH5G-5229

CRH5E

Coach No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
Type	ZE	WR							WRC	WR						ZE
Power Configuration	M | Tp | M | T | Tp | colspan=4 | M | Tp | T | M | Tp | M | Mc
Power Units	Unit 1				Unit 2				Unit 3				Unit 4

• Train numbers CRH5E-5201 and CRH5E-5202

Distribution

By September 2017, a total of 227 units of the CRH5 series had been manufactured, inclusive of the No. 0 high-speed comprehensive inspection train.

Operator	Quantity	Serial Numbers	Depot	Remarks
CRH5A
China Railway Beijing Group	13	5018、5021、5029、5036、5037、5042、5073、5079、5103、5116、5117、5134、5135	Beijing
	8	5057、5061、5063、5074、5077、5115、5119、5120	Shijiazhuang
	5	5028、5076、5118、5121、5136	Caozhuang
China Railway Lanzhou Group	2	5078、5104	Yinchuan
China Railway Wuhan Group	17	5078、5091、5096、5097、5100～5101、5104～5110、5123～5127、5133	Hankou
China Railway Shenyang Group	19	5015、5016、5024、5026、5035、5038、5039、5082、5089、5092～5094、5102、5111、5113、5114、5137～5139	Shenyang North
	5	5014、5017、5081、5088、5112	Tongliao
	9	5001～5008、5010	Dalian
China Railway Harbin Group	26	5019～5023,5030,5033,5041,5043,5056,5062,5064,5065,5067～5072,5090,5099,5128～5132,5140	Harbin West
China Railway Taiyuan Group	20	5025,5027,5031,5032,5034,5040,5058～5060,5066,5075,5080,5083～5087,5095,5098,5122	Taiyuan
China Railway Hohhot Group	16	5009,5011～5013,5044～5055	Hohhot
CRH5G
China Railway Ürümqi Group	12	5183～5185,5195～5198,5200,5206,5207,5212,5214	Ürümqi
China Railway Lanzhou Group	24	5147,5152,5178,5191～5194,5199,5208,5210,5215,5216,5218～5229	Lanzhou West	Units 5218～5229 are upgraded CRH5G models
	6	5148,5151,5177,5199,5209,5213	Yinchuan
China Railway Qingzang Group	7	5175,5176,5179～5182,5211	Xining
China Railway Harbin Group	12	5143～5146,5153～5156,5158,5159,5186,5187	Harbin West
China Railway Shenyang Group	23	5141,5142,5149,5150,5157,5160～5174,5188～5190	Changchun
CRH5E
China Railway Ürümqi Group	2	5201・5202	Ürümqi	Sleeper EMUs initially tested at China Railway Test Center; from January 2019 operate on Beijing-Qingdao North D335/336 route; currently assigned as daytime sleeper trains in Ürümqi.
CRH5J (formerly CIT001)
China Railway	1	0501		Designated as No. 0 high-speed comprehensive inspection train (featuring yellow livery)

See also

• China Railway CRH3A
• China Railway CJ1
• China Railway CR300BF
• China Railway CIT trains
• List of high-speed trains
• New Pendolino
• Avant class 114
• Pendolino