China to produce hybrid high-speed trains

CHANGCHUN - China CNR Corporation Limited (CNR), one of the country's biggest train makers, announced on Tuesday that it will roll a prototype of hybrid high-speed train off the production line in September 2015.

Changchun Railway Vehicle Co., Ltd (CRC) of CNR will integrate two or three power sources -- electricity, battery pack or diesel engine -- into the trains, according to CNR.

The power sources will form two-in-one or three-in-one power packs depending on operation and rail conditions.

The design speed of the trains will be 160 km per hour, said CNR.

The trains are expected to run on both trunk and branch railways.

They will be widely used compared with traditional trains because of their adaptability to travel on both electric and non-electric railways.

By the end of last year, 52.4 percent of China's railways were electric. This will increase, according to the country's medium and long term railway development plan.

The production of hybrid high-speed trains will serve the country's increasing number of electric railways, according to the CNR.