China recently announced a significant achievement in the hyperloop transport sector: its magnetic levitation train, dubbed the T-Flight, broke the world speed record during a test, reaching 387 mph (623 km/h).
This project, led by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), a state-owned company, does not intend to stop here. The designers aim to develop a train capable of breaking the sound barrier, with a projected top speed of 1242 mph (2000 km/h), thus surpassing commercial airliners in cruising speed.
Hyperloop trains, a technology initially proposed by Elon Musk in 2013, operate by propelling magnetic levitation capsules through tunnels where air resistance is minimized. To achieve such speeds, the T-Flight moves in a low-pressure tube, where friction is almost non-existent. The test track, nearly 1.24 miles (2 kilometers) long, was specially designed to accommodate this technology, with extremely precise flatness and geometry.
The ambition does not stop at breaking speed records. CASIC plans to extend the track to 37 miles (60 kilometers) for the second phase of testing, allowing the T-Flight to reach 621 mph (1000 km/h). This hyperloop train project between Wuhan and Beijing could significantly accelerate travel in China, offering a faster alternative than air travel.
The previous holder of the speed record for a magnetic levitation train was the Japanese Shinkansen L0, with 375 mph (603 km/h). Hyperloop systems, with their ability to move vehicles at speeds far exceeding those of conventional trains, promise to transform the landscape of terrestrial transportation.
This Chinese breakthrough comes at a time when the hyperloop industry is experiencing ups and downs, including the closure of Virgin Hyperloop in 2023, one of the sector’s leading companies.
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