China has successfully tested its new ultra-high-speed (UHS) maglev train during a demonstration in the Shanxi Province. Using magnetic levitation and a low-pressure tube, the train was able to reach a speed of 623 kilometres per hour and that’s not even its top speed.
Construction of the new train started in April 2022, thanks to a collaboration between China Aerospace Science, Industry Corporation Limited and the Shanxi Province. By combining space technology with ground transportation, the aim was to develop a train able to travel faster than most commercial planes.
During the test, which was carried out in a 2-kilometre-long low-vacuum tube in Yanggao County, Datong City, the train showed it could navigate accurately, stay stable and stop safely. Both its speed and height were precisely as planned. Moreover, the test showed it was possible to maintain a large vacuum inside the tube.
That vacuum is one of the essential parts of the train’s speed. In combination with the magnetic levitation, it eliminates as much friction as possible, allowing it to more than double the speed of the current fastest train in China, the Shanghai Maglev. Because even though the maximum speed reached during the initial test was 623 kilometres per hour, the UHS maglev train should be able to go up to 999 kilometres per hour.
A novel ultra-high-speed (UHS) maglev transportation system recently completed a demonstration test in North #China's Shanxi province, marking another progress for the maglev #train that can travel at speeds of up to 1,000 km per hour. #QualityGrowth #technology pic.twitter.com/YTg827okrg
— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) August 7, 2024
During the second phase, the train should be run at its top speed but before that, a 60 kilometre-long track has to be built. Before the train could potentially be employed by the public, many other issues remain to be resolved, such as what would happen if a tunnel was depressurised during a ride.
In the long run, the technology could establish fast connections between China’s biggest cities, eliminating the need of airplanes. A journey from Beijing to Shanghai, for example, could be completed in about 1.5 hours – compared to 2 hours plus commuting by plane, 4.5 to 6.5 hours by normal high-speed rail and over 12 hours by traditional train.
At the moment, China already has the world’s most extensive high-speed rail network. Since 2008 major infrastructure works have been carried out, resulting in over 40,000 kilometres of high-speed tracks. That network links 93% of the country’s cities with populations over 500,000.
