The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) claims that their 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 actual speed reached by the train is unknown, the CASIC stated that its most recent test represented “a significant breakthrough.” It further stated that this was the first time an ultra-fast hyperloop train achieved stable levitation while traveling in a low-vacuum tube.
China could soon have a train that can travel at the speed of a jet according to the SCMP. The vehicle uses maglev technology, which uses magnetism to propel the train ahead and “levitate” it above the tracks, decreasing friction. To increase its speed, the train passes through a specially built low-vacuum tube that decreases air resistance.
CASIC’s latest test propels high-speed flier project beyond aviation speeds, hitting up to 1,000km/hr
According to CASIC, the most recent test not only set a system speed record but also validated numerous essential technologies and demonstrated their compatibility. The high-speed flier project combines aeronautical and terrestrial rail transportation technology, with a design speed of up to 1,000km/hr, which exceeds commercial aviation speeds, according to the agency.
“Science and technology progress step by step and some aspects of this project are still in uncharted territory in China. Every step is challenging, and it’s a complex 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 hefty maglev vehicles floating steadily. The CASIC reported that the powerful movement mechanisms and overall safety controls worked as planned.
These advancements boosted the system’s overall technical maturity, establishing the groundwork for future higher-speed tests and the development of a national transit network, according to the agency.
The China National Space Administration, through the CASIC department, is also developing the country’s next-generation commercial aerospace electromagnetic launch systems.