The last letter C means that each rolling stock of this model consists of 8 cars and runs with a maximum speed of 350 km/h (217 mph).

The rest of the trains are now being built by Tangshan Railway Vehicle with some components from Germany.

[9] The 8-car CRH3C trains are similar to the Velaro E design in Spain, but 300 mm (11.8 in) wider to fit more seats in a 2+3 layout; a 200 m (656 ft 2 in) CRH3 train will seat 572 passengers: 16 deluxe-class (8 sold publicly), 56 in first-class, 528 in second-class.

Innovations include the body bolster, vibration damper, spring parameters, transmission ratio, widening the carbody and increasing the speed of the trainsets.

[citation needed] On 28 September 2009, an additional 20 CRH3C sets was ordered by the Chinese MOR.

[13] In March 2009, a new contract was signed with China Northern Railways (CNR) to supply 100 16-car trainsets for 39.2B RMB with delivery from October 2010 onwards.

[18] The first CRH380BL set with series number CRH380B-6401L rolled off the production line and was unveiled to the public in September 2010. it was manufactured by Tangshan Railway Vehicle.

[22] All 54 CRH380BL trainsets were recalled in mid-August 2011 due to operational problems on the new Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway.

The new trains were reported as being "too sensitive" and the subject of frequent breakdowns in stormy weather.

[26][27] The first sets where unveiled for public service on 6 December 2017 on the Xi'an–Chengdu HSR which opened a few days later.

[28] A prototype highspeed train being developed at CRRC Tangshan capable of cars in a trainset to be swapped out according to demand.