China-standard bullet trains start operation

China's new bullet trains officially started operation on Beijing-Shanghai high speed railway line on Monday.

Two new models of "China-standard" bullet trains, also known as electric multiple units (EMU), received their official names, "Fuxing CR400AF" and "Fuxing CR400BF," on Sunday, according to the National Railway Administration (NRA).

The first model, CR400AF, departed from the Beijing South Railway Station at 11:05 a.m. for Shanghai, and the second model, CR400BF, left the Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station for Beijing at the same time.

The new bullet trains officially start operation on Beijing-Shanghai high speed railway line on June 26, 2017.

All of the components corresponding to key technologies used in "Fuxing CR400AF" and "Fuxing CR400BF" are produced in China, said the NRA.

“Fuxing” means rejuvenation while “CR” stands for “China Railway,” the NRA explained. The number 400 represents the fastest speed at which the trains could travel per hour. Meanwhile, “F” indicates the special power technology the two trains are using. The NRA said that “A” and “B” represent different train makers.

People attend a naming ceremony for the new models of China's electric multiple unit (EMU) train "Fuxing" in Beijing, capital of China, June 25, 2017

In order to improve China’s railway technology, as well as meet the demand of rapid economic development, China started the EMU project in 2012 and completed the plan design in 2014.

EMUs started experimental tests in 2015 at the National Railway Test Center of the China Academy of Railway in Beijing. On August 15, 2016, the first China-standard EMU began operation as Train No. G8041, departing from Dalian North Railway Station to Shenyang Railway Station.

China has the world's longest railway network, totaling 22,000 kilometers by the end of 2016.