Preface: Aerodynamic characteristics of higher-speed trains

• China's high-speed railway network exceeds 50,000 km by 2025, ranking first globally, highlighting the critical need for aerodynamic research. • Aerodynamic challenges such as drag, noise, crosswind stability, and tunnel pressure fluctuations directly impact safety, efficiency, and comfort of higher-speed trains. • This special issue presents cutting-edge research across four thematic areas: open-air performance, noise mitigation, crosswind stability, and train-tunnel coupled effects. • The studies integrate high-fidelity simulations, advanced testing, and field measurements, offering practical insights for next-generation high-speed railway design.