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Using magnetic levitation technology and vacuum tunnels, China's new flying train has already exceeded 623 km/h in tests and promises to reach 1.000 km/h, surpassing commercial airplanes and changing the future of travel!
Have you ever imagined taking a train and traveling faster than a commercial airplane? In China, this is already becoming a reality. The country is investing heavily in a revolutionary technology: a flying train, which uses magnetic levitation (maglev) and travels inside almost airless tunnels to reach insane speeds of up to 1.000 km/h.
The idea is not just to break speed records, but completely change the way we move around. And if you think that this is still far away, there are already tests going on and the first results are jaw-dropping!
What is the flying train and how does it work?
Unlike conventional trains, which run on rails and suffer from friction, the flying train simply floats on the tracks using maglev technology. But how is this possible?
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Well, it works with superconductors that generate a super-powerful magnetic field, making the train levitate. And how does it move? Simple: magnetic propulsion. This means that the train never touches the tracks, eliminating almost all friction and allowing it to reach absurd speeds.
What's more, it won't run on ordinary rails, but rather inside low-pressure, practically vacuum-filled tunnels. This further reduces air resistance, allowing the train to glide almost effortlessly. The result? A rocket on rails!
Tests and advances in China
If you think this is all still on paper, forget it! China is already testing this technology. In August 2024, one of these superconducting trains was tested in Shanxi province and achieved stable levitation and full navigation control.
The exact speed details of this test have not been revealed, but the CF600-0001 model, designed for 600 km/h, has already exceeded 623 km/h in the first experiments. And the best part: the test tunnel is two kilometers long and was built exclusively for this new generation of maglev trains.
If everything goes as planned, China wants to reach the 1.000 km/h mark, making the flying train the fastest means of land transport on the planet.
And it doesn't stop there! China already has other super-fast train projects in operation, such as the CR450, designed for 450 km/h, and the famous Shanghai maglev train, which reaches 431 km/h and connects Pudong airport to the city center. But the new technology promises to be a giant leap forward in relation to all of that!
The future of Maglev technology and billion-dollar investments
Of course, such an ambitious project doesn’t come cheap. But apparently, money is no object for China. According to China Railway, the government is expected to invest more than R$492,88 billion in the development of the flying train in the coming years.
And what would be the first route for this super train? One of the possibilities raised is between Hangzhou and Shanghai, drastically reducing travel time between these strategic cities. Can you imagine leaving one city and arriving in another in less than 20 minutes?
If technology continues to advance at its current rate, it would not be at all surprising to see these trains operating commercially in less than a decade.
