Chinese maglev train breaks world record

China has set a new global benchmark in high-speed rail technology after successfully testing an experimental maglev train that accelerated to 700 kilometres in just two seconds, researchers have said.

The test was carried out by scientists at the National University of Defence Technology, using a magnetically levitated test train weighing more than 1,000 tonnes. Researchers said the acceleration was so rapid that the train would be visible to an onlooker for less than a second as it passed.

The train was operated on a specially designed maglev track, enabling it to reach the record speed and then decelerate safely without incident, according to the research team.

Maglev trains use superconducting magnets to levitate above the track, removing the need for wheels or physical contact with the rail. This significantly reduces friction and allows much higher speeds than conventional rail systems.

With the latest test, the system is now regarded as the fastest electric maglev train ever tested, surpassing previous records.

Previous global records

Until now, the world speed record for maglev trains was held by Japan’s L0 Series superconducting maglev, which reached 603 km/h during a test run on the Yamanashi Maglev Test Line in 2015.

Earlier Japanese tests in the 2000s had recorded speeds of 581 km/h and 590 km/h, while China’s commercially operated Shanghai maglev—the world’s first high-speed maglev service—runs at a top operational speed of 431 km/h, although it reached 501 km/h during testing in 2003.

Future implications

Researchers said the extreme acceleration achieved in the latest test is so powerful that similar technology could potentially be adapted for rocket-launch systems in the future.

If developed for commercial use, the technology could dramatically reduce travel times between major Chinese cities, allowing passengers to travel between destinations in a matter of minutes, they added.