Digital News

　　Electrified railways are a major symbol of modern railway transportation and an essential manifestation of the modernization of national transportation infrastructure.

　　In July 1975, the completion of the Baoji-Chengdu Railway Electrification Project marked the birth of China’s first electrified railway, heralding the start of the country’s railway modernization. Half a century later, the transformation is evident—what began as detailed blueprints has evolved into a multidimensional reality through digital twin technology; what once required manual overhead wire installation is now performed by intelligent robots in an automated manner… With the support of digital and intelligent technologies, China’s railways have entered a new phase of development, and electrified “steel dragons” now soar across the vast expanse of the nation.

　　By the end of 2024, China’s railway network had a total operational length of 162,000 kilometers, with over 120,000 kilometers electrified, accounting for 75.8% of the total. What are the “digital and intelligent keys” that power the high-speed electrified railways?

　　Simplification, Unification, and Standardization Promote Intelligent Transformation

　　“The key to modern railway development lies in the construction of the ‘four electric systems,’” said Lu Chunfang, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and former President of the China Railway Society. The “four electric systems,” including communication, signaling, electrical power, and electric traction power supply systems, serve as the driving force and the central nervous system of high-speed rail. He further emphasized that technical standards are the essential foundation that supports these systems.

　　Over the years, China Railway Electrification Engineering Group Co., Ltd. (CREEG) has consistently addressed key challenges in core areas such as traction power supply, catenary systems, and smart equipment. The company has developed a series of proprietary technologies with full intellectual property rights and is making rapid strides toward intelligent construction.

　　The catenary system is the core power supply facility of electrified railways. In the past, China’s railway catenary systems used a mix of standards from countries such as Germany, France, and Japan, resulting in a wide variety of types and specifications. In 2015, China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. launched a project to develop a new, simplified catenary system. The project was led by China Railway Design Corporation, with CREEG playing a key role in its development.

　　Simplification, unification, and standardization aim to achieve unified technical parameters, streamline and standardize equipment structures, reduce the number of component types, and improve the performance of key parts in catenary components and their installation. Compared to traditional structures, the simplified and standardized catenary system reduces the number of cantilever components by 39%, the number of screw thread pairs by 57%, and the variety of tightening torques by 50%. This leads to enhanced manufacturing stability and better component integration, meeting the operational requirements of high-speed rail power supply systems.

　　Simplification, unification, and standardization provide unified interface standards for intelligent construction equipment, laying a solid foundation for automation technologies. Thanks to the continuous efforts of CREEG’s technical team, equipment such as the catenary tunnel automatic positioning and measurement instrument, with complete independent intellectual property rights, has been successfully developed, reaching internationally leading standards.

　　The catenary suspension pole is a vital component of the electrified railway catenary system. One of its primary functions is to ensure stable contact between the contact wire and the pantograph inside tunnels. In the past, the installation of catenary suspension poles relied on traditional electronic total stations for positioning. This method was labor-intensive and prone to measurement errors, which affected the quality of the power supply in subsequent stages. The catenary tunnel automatic positioning and measurement instrument addresses this challenge. It uses a laser sensor to measure the real-time distance between the instrument and the object, processes the collected data, and uploads it to a mobile terminal. This enables the integration of digital circuits and automates both measurement and calculation.

　　During the construction of the Qingbaijiang to Huangshengguan section of the Sichuan-Qinghai Railway, this equipment played a crucial role. Zhang Genhong, Chief Engineer of the Zhenhuang section project of the Sichuan-Qinghai Railway for CREEG Xi’an Electrification Engineering Co., Ltd., told the reporter that the catenary tunnel automatic positioning and measurement instrument significantly improved both the efficiency of catenary construction and the accuracy of installation.

　　Enhanced Adaptability Across All Scenarios

　　Currently, China’s electrified railways are moving towards higher speeds, which has led to higher requirements for the technical standards system of the “four electric systems.” Lin Yunzhi, Chief Engineer at CREEG, noted that the company is systematically advancing research on high-speed traction power supply systems. It is also driving the application of intelligent construction technologies, such as smart equipment, digital technologies, and data platforms, aiming to set a new benchmark for intelligent high-speed rail and establish a global standard for high-speed railway systems.

　　Actually, the shift of electrified railways from mechanization to intelligence is not just reflected in speed improvements, but also in their remarkable adaptability to complex environments. Whether exposed to extreme cold, high temperatures, high humidity, or high altitudes, China’s standard electrified railways have always demonstrated an impressive ability to adapt to these challenges.

　　The Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway is the world’s highest electrified railway, winding through the snow-capped plateau with a peak altitude of 3,650 meters. CREEG has pioneered a series of technological innovations, including the development of equipment tailored for plateau conditions and intelligent remote-control systems, ensuring the Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway operates safely and smoothly in the harsh plateau environment. The railway’s traction substations are equipped with an unmanned, remotely controlled system, enabling staff in Xining—more than 2,300 kilometers away—to complete tasks with just a simple tap on their devices.

　　From the mountainous Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway to the Ge’ermu-Ku’erle Railway stretching across the vast Gobi Desert, and further to the wind-swept Lanzhou-Urumqi High-Speed Railway, China’s electrified railways, powered by digital and intelligent technologies, are steadily advancing their ability to operate across diverse terrains, climates, and conditions. This progress is continually building invaluable experience in the construction of electrified railways in challenging environments.

　　Smart Operations and Maintenance for Enhanced Assurance

　　Operation and maintenance (O&M) are crucial to the efficient functioning of electrified railways once they are operational. O&M across all disciplines and throughout the entire network, including the “four electric systems,” demands a substantial workforce.

　　To enhance railway O&M efficiency, CREEG has developed a multidisciplinary, integrated smart O&M big data platform. By harnessing advanced technologies such as big data, 5G, cloud computing, drones, image recognition, and intelligent equipment, this platform significantly enhances the capability to ensure safe railway O&M.

　　Lin Yunzhi told the reporter that, compared to traditional O&M methods, the smart O&M big data platform delivers four key 20% improvements: a 20% reduction in O&M costs for traction power supply equipment management, a 20% decrease in equipment failure rates, a 20% extension of the equipment overhaul period, and a 20% increase in the lifespan of catenary components.

　　Regarding the maintenance of high-speed rail power systems, inspecting and monitoring the suspension status of the catenary is the most critical and direct task. The inspection image data provides a clear depiction of defects in the catenary, making it a powerful tool for eliminating faults and safety hazards. The High-Speed Railway 4C Visual Intelligent Analysis System, developed by CREEG, integrates advanced technologies such as intelligent recognition, industrial algorithms, and knowledge graphs. This system enables the rapid extraction of valuable information from massive data, effectively enhancing the safety of high-speed rail operations.

　　Previously, detecting potential hazards in high-speed rail catenary systems typically required experienced engineers, usually with 6 to 8 years under their belts, who manually reviewed and analyzed over one million images collected each year. With the introduction of the intelligent analysis system, this process has evolved into a “smart recognition and manual verification” approach. It achieves highly accurate and efficient detection of more than 1,300 types of potential defects in catenary components, including loosened or missing parts. Compared to traditional inspection methods, it identifies ten times more hazards and boosts analysis efficiency by over twentyfold.

　　The auxiliary monitoring system for railway traction substations is also driving a transformation toward unmanned inspections in railway O&M.

　　“Previously, in addition to the integrated automation system, China’s railway traction substations were also equipped with video surveillance, security, access control, environmental control, fire alarm, firefighting supervision, and online monitoring systems. However, these systems failed to fully achieve information sharing, interactive coordination, or backend visual management, making them inadequate for the needs of unmanned operations,” explained Lin Yunzhi.

　　The current auxiliary monitoring system for traction substations utilizes machine vision recognition technology designed for complex environments. By integrating data from various subsystems, including video inspections, security, environmental monitoring, fire alarms, power lighting control, and online monitoring, the system enables intelligent inspections and provides valuable support for operational and maintenance decision-making. The system has already been deployed in multiple projects, efficiently and safely completing tasks such as monitoring equipment operation and performing inspections within substations.

　　Over the past five decades, China’s electrified railways have not only facilitated the smooth movement of people and goods but have also served as a driving force behind the country’s modernization. Using their wisdom and dedication, generations of electrification builders have tirelessly created a railway network spanning the length and breadth of China, pushing the country’s railways towards smarter, more intelligent operations.