A trial run of China's new high-speed bullet train, which uses a cutting-edge traction system, will start soon, head of the high-speed railway innovation program said.

The permanent magnet synchronous traction system was developed by CSR Corp Ltd, one of China's two major locomotive makers, at its Zhuzhou Institute in Hunan Province, China Daily reported on Friday.

The system has passed preliminary examination by national railway test authorities and has been installed on a new bullet train produced by CSR Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd in Shandong Province, the report said, citing Prof. Jia Limin at Beijing Jiaotong University who heads China's high-speed railway innovation program.

"If everything goes well, we will begin a trial run in a short time and then improve the equipment based on the tests," Jia said. "I think the new train will become fully operational by 2018."

Compared with the alternating current asynchronous motors that are commonly used for a bullet train's traction system, the permanent magnet synchronous traction boasts high power, a simple configuration and low fuel consumption, Jia said.

The expert added that the new system has fewer parts than the current traction apparatus, so it is more reliable and efficient. Other advantages include occupying a smaller space on the train and producing less noise during operation, according to the report.

Xu Junfeng, who oversaw the traction system's development, said, "Currently, six out of eight cars of a bullet train need to have engines."

"Using the new traction system will allow only four cars to be fitted with engines," Xu said, "which will substantially reduce costs and maintenance procedures."

The CSR Zhuzhou Institute launched the project in 2011 and has been in charge of all core technologies for permanent magnet traction, which will be the mainstream of traction devices for next-generation bullet trains, the report said.

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