High-speed trains pass major speed test of 385 km/hour

China's 350 km/h-electric trains reached a speed of 385 kilometers per hour in a test, signaling that domestic high-speed trains have passed a "major test", which means they will be put into operation next year.

The model that runs the railway line from Datong in Shanxi province to Xi'an, capital of Southwest China's Shannxi province was developed by Qingdao Sifang Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Chinese train maker CRRC Corp Ltd.

The model high-speed multiple unit with a speed of 350 kilometers per hour rolled off the production line in June, opening doors for more exports of high-speed trains, said Liang Jianying, a chief engineer at Qingdao Sifang.

"We have independent intellectual property rights for this model, which meets the standards of the international level with a focus on innovation in safety, comfort and energy-saving," he said.

"Evaluations on technical performance have been very good, and the results meet all design standards, paving the way for the future operation of the high-speed trains," he said.

CRRC said the model still needs to run some heavy-duty tests before it can operate on the 600,000 kilometer-rail network next year.