China’s New Train Breaks World Record

Record-smashing Chinese maglev hyper loop train hits 387 mph  

China has announced that its maglev hyperloop train has set a new world speed record during a test run, reaching an impressive speed of 387 mph (623 km/h). The goal of the project’s developers is to build a train more than three times as fast, breaking the sound barrier and outpacing airplanes. According to a report by New Atlas, the maglev train, known as the T-Flight, was developed by the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC). The T-Flight is a maglev train that hit a record-breaking speed of 387 mph on a short test track — but engineers want to increase it further so the train can carry passengers at speeds faster than if they were traveling by plane.

The T-Flight might eventually reach a speed of up to 1,243 mph (2,000 km/h) when deployed in the future. The previous record holder for the fastest maglev train is the L0 Series SCMaglev in Japan, as reported by JRPass, which can hit a top speed of 375 mph (630 km/h). CASIC reportedly constructed a track approximately 2 km's in length in a low-pressure vacuum tube to test the train. Hyperloop trains work by pushing magnetically levitating pods through tunnels with very little air resistance. To achieve such high speeds, the trains must experience minimal friction. Therefore, CASIC ensured the test track was exceptionally smooth, with a flatness tolerance of 0.01 inches (0.3 millimeters), meaning there is a 0.01-inch difference between the lowest and highest point of the flat surface. According to New Atlas, the 20-foot-wide (6-meter) tunnel has a geometric size error of less than 0.1 inch (2 mm), meaning the margin of error against a perfect shape. Furthermore, the entire pipeline can return to normal pressure in five minutes.

In the T-Flight’s second phase of testing, CASIC plans to extend the track to 37 miles (60 km) and enable the train to reach 621 mph (1,000 km/h). At this theoretical top speed, the maglev train would outpace a passenger jet, which typically cruises at speeds ranging between 575 and 600 mph (925 km/h and 966 km/h), as reported by Simple Flying. The company's ambitions don't stop there, however, with plans for a connection between Wuhan and Beijing that can reach up to 1,243 mph (2,000 km/h).