China has unveiled a prototype of its next-generation high-speed train, a vehicle it says is set to become the world’s fastest.

The CR450, which was unveiled in Beijing on December 29, had reached test speeds of up to 450 kilometers (281 miles) per hour and an operational speed of 400 kilometers (248.5 miles) per hour, according to China’s Ministry of Transport.

Once in commercial service, it could be the fastest high-speed train in the world, surpassing China’s current CR400 model, which debuted in 2017 and operates at 350 kilometers (217 miles) per hour.

The latest CR450 prototype was hailed by its developers – CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles and CRRC Sifang Co., Ltd. – for its excellence in operational speed, energy efficiency, noise control and braking performance.

It has undergone more than 3,000 simulations and over 2,000 platform tests to meet the stringent requirements of commercial operation, according to the state-run China Daily.

Further tests and improvements of the line are needed to ensure it meets all necessary standards for commercial operations, China State Railway Group said.

Over the past decade, China has become an undisputed world leader in railway development, building thousands of kilometers of new railways that reach almost every corner of the country. Its rail network stretches over 160,000 kilometers, including more than 46,000 kilometers of high-speed rail, according to China’s Ministry of Transport.

High-speed rail has long been an effective alternative to air travel for journeys of up to 700 miles, connecting people moving between major cities and rural areas of the country with ease and comfort.

Since the 1980s, hundreds of billions of dollars have been invested in new high-speed, high-capacity railways across Europe and Asia, led by Japan’s Shinkansen and France’s Train a Grand Vitesse (TGV).