China’s very-first regional Type-C train has achieved 4+4 coupled operation on the Shanghai Suburban Railway Airport Link Line.
The line, which has now entered a new phase of coordinated action with three formations (four-car, eight-car, and 4+4 coupled sets), is aiming to allow more flexible capacity allocation in order to meet both daily and peak passenger demand.
The trains were developed by CRRC Changchun
© CRRC Changchun
CRRC Changchun’s trains utilise a design that allows both end cars and intermediate cars to share the same length, allowing for more consistent door spacing after coupling and resulting in more precise alignment with train doors – regardless of whether four-car or 4+4 coupled formations are used.
By connecting with lines such as the Jia-Min Line and the Demonstration Zone Line, the Airport Link Line also aims to serve the broader Yangtze River Delta region.