The floating train 'Hyperloop' sets a new speed record on its way to the 1,000 km/h target
CHINA'S revolutionary hyperloop train that aims to reach speeds of 1,000km/h has set an incredible new record.
Chinese aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) said it has made “a major breakthrough” in its latest test of the high-speed shuttle.
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The largest aerospace contractor first unveiled plans for the futuristic high-speed train in 2017.
The 'ultra-fast pipeline magnet system' – commonly known as a hyperloop – aims to travel at speeds of up to 1,000 km/h (621 mph) in a 93-mile vacuum tunnel between Shanghai and Hangzhou.
If successful, the trains would become faster than commercial flights, which typically have an average speed of 900 km/h.
Using vacuum-tight tubes to transport passengers and cargo, the maglev system was first proposed by entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2013.
Read more about the Chinese trains
The system consists of just two things: a train and a vacuum, instead of a train, track and tunnels.
In recent tests, China's hyperloop broke previous records by completing the full length of a 2km test track with stable levitation, CASIC said.
Although the exact speed remains secret, it has reportedly surpassed the previous maglev vehicle record of 570 km/h, set by the French V150 train in 2007.
During performance tests in November, the floating train shot to an impressive speed of 450 km/h.
The conditions reduce air resistance, allowing 'near ground flight' at ultra-high speeds.
The test track, located in Datong, Shanxi Province, is the longest and largest of its kind.
The project's chief designer, Mao Kai, told Zhejiang Daily: “Science and technology are advancing step by step, and some aspects of this project are still under development. unknown territory in China.
“Every step is a challenge and it is a complex system.”
During the tests, engineers said they verified superconducting magnets, traction systems and the safety of the overall system.
Zhang Yunjiao, a senior engineer at state-owned China Railway Engineering Design and Consulting Group in Beijing, previously said the hyperloop project was “of strategic importance for China.”
The line is expected to be operational in 2035.
Several major cities were considered for the mega project, but the first line between Shanghai and Hangzhou will be opened.
It currently takes three hours to travel 175 kilometers between Shanghai and Hangzhou, but with the hyperloop system it could take as little as 15 minutes.
What is a 'magnetic train'?
This is what you need to know…
Maglev trains get their name because they use magnets to levitate the train slightly off the track.
This means there are no wheels and it can travel faster due to less friction.
Journeys are also smoother than with standard trains.
They don't need drivers because the track can tell them where to go.
Researchers are working on tube designs for the trains so that air resistance doesn't stop them from reaching their full potential.
So far, China's high-speed railway has reached 42,000 km, ranking first in the world by the end of 2022.
There is already one maglev train in China, connecting Shanghai airport to the city center, making the 30 kilometer journey possible in about seven minutes.
After the success, China Railway plans to expand the technology to connect their urban and rural areas.
China is leading the development of high-speed rail, but other world powers have also developed their own high-speed trains as an alternative to flying.
Siemens and Bombardier have worked together to develop the ICE 3: a family of electric high-speed trains that run between the Netherlands and Germany.
These trains typically travel at a maximum speed of 200 miles per hour, although trains between Frankfurt and Cologne are allowed to travel faster than 200 miles per hour to avoid delays.
Also in Europe, the Train a Grande Vitesse, or TGV, is the continent's first high-speed line.
TGVs continually surpass records for fastest speeds and in 1990 they set the record of 520 km/h.
In 2007 they broke it again with the current record of 570 km/h.
And South Korea's high-speed rail network has 71 trainsets that can accelerate from 0 to 300 km/h in just 316 seconds.
The fastest trains in the world
Here are the 10 fastest high-speed trains in the world…
- Shanghai Maglev – 460 km/h (China)
- CR Harmony – 350 km/h (China)
- CR Fuxing – 350 km/h (China)
- DB ICE – 350 km/h (Germany)
- SCNCF TGV – 320 km/h (France)
- JR Shinkansen – 320 km/h (Japan)
- ONCF Al Boraq – 320 km/h (Morocco)
- Renfe AVE 103 – 310 km/h (Spain)
- Korail KTX-Sancheon – 305 km/h (Korea)
- Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000 – 300 km/h (Italy)