The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) claims that its new magnetically levitated (maglev) train broke the previous record of 623 kilometers per hour (387 miles per hour) during tests in a low-vacuum tube only 2 kilometers long. According to the South China Morning Post, while the exact speed reached by the train is unknown, the CASIC stated that its most recent test represented “a significant breakthrough.” It also stated that this was the first time an ultra-fast hyperloop train achieved stable levitation while traveling in a low-vacuum tube.
According to the SCMP, China could soon have a train that can travel at the speed of a plane. The vehicle uses maglev technology, which uses magnetism to propel the train forward and “levitate” it above the tracks, reducing friction. To increase its speed, the train passes through a specially designed low-vacuum tube that reduces air resistance.
According to CASIC, the most recent test not only set a system speed record, but also validated several key technologies and demonstrated their compatibility. The high-speed flier project combines aerospace and terrestrial rail transportation technologies, with a design speed of up to 1,000km/hr, which exceeds commercial aviation speeds, according to the agency.
“Science and technology advance incrementally, and some aspects of this project remain uncharted territory in China. Every step is difficult, and it’s a complicated system,” said the project’s chief designer, Mao Kai.
According to the outlet, the most recent test demonstrated that the vehicle tube and track work well together, keeping the heavy maglev vehicles floating steadily. The CASIC reported that the powerful movement systems and overall safety controls worked as expected.
These advancements improved the system’s overall technical maturity, laying the groundwork for future higher-speed tests and the development of a national transport network, according to the agency.
Furthermore, the China National Space Administration, the CASIC department, is working on the country’s next-generation commercial aerospace electromagnetic.