A train capable of accelerating faster than an airplane has been tested in China. The train moves using magnetic levitation, which allows it to literally hang in the air. Due to this, friction simply does not arise and the machine flies without resistance. The developers are confident that such trains will become ubiquitous in the future.
A new generation Chinese magnetic levitation train has set an impressive record. In Hubei Province, on a specially equipped track, an experimental train weighing just over a ton was able to reach a speed of 650 km/h in just seven seconds. This happened on a one-kilometer-long section. This result was made possible by modern technologies that allow movement without wheels — using magnetic forces.
Instead of the usual contact with the rails, the car literally hovers above the track. It is supported and accelerated by a system based on an electromagnetic drive and permanent magnets. The entire structure is designed as follows: special coils are installed along the track, which create a changing magnetic field. It interacts with the magnets on the train, creating lifting force and traction. This principle allows for friction to be minimized, which means significantly increasing acceleration and reducing wear of mechanisms.
The technology used is the so-called high-temperature superconducting maglev. When the material is cooled to a certain temperature (usually with liquid nitrogen), the resistance is lost and the current flows without losses. This makes the electromagnetic system powerful and economical at the same time. The train is also equipped with dynamic stabilization systems that keep it at a precise height – with a deviation of no more than a few millimeters.
The project is not limited to the current speed. Work is already underway to reach the 800 km/h mark. This is the level of modern jet airliners, but without runways. Acceleration is achieved by sequentially switching on sections of the magnetic field along the track. Braking is organized in a similar way – the car slows down, passing through areas with a reverse field. The total stopping distance is about 200 m, which is impressive at such speeds.
Interestingly, this entire system was tested on a track only 1000 m long. For comparison, classic high-speed testing grounds require at least 30-40 km. Chinese engineers have achieved high accuracy – the speed and position of the train are tracked with an error of up to 4 mm. All this makes it possible to test technologies on compact sections suitable for use in densely populated areas.
The development is being carried out by the scientific center at the Donghu laboratory. For the first time, engineers have managed to combine the compact dimensions of the platform with the high reliability of magnetic suspension and powerful electromagnetic traction. Experts believe that high-speed routes between megacities and even international highways will appear in the future based on these developments. Now the main goal is to bring the project to mass use and adapt it to real loads.
The new technology could also be useful in other areas, from cargo terminals to aerospace. The superconducting magnets used in the design are already being tested in other transport systems. If all goes according to plan, China could see its first commercial line of faster-than-sound trains in the coming years. And wheels, smoke, and noise will become secondary.