China’s maglev hyperloop train has achieved a new world speed record during a test run, reaching an impressive speed of 387 mph (623 km/h).
Developers of the project aim to build a train more than three times as fast, surpassing the sound barrier and outpacing airplanes.
As reported by New Atlas, The maglev train, the T-Flight, was developed by the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC).
Previously, the fastest maglev train in Japan was the L0 Series SCMaglev, with a top speed of 375 mph (630 km/h), according to JRPass.
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To test the train, CASIC constructed a 2-kilometer-long track in a low-pressure vacuum tube. To achieve such high speeds, minimal friction is essential.
The test track was meticulously smoothed by CASIC, with a flatness tolerance of 0.01 inches (0.3 millimeters), ensuring minimal variation in surface height.
The 20-foot-wide (6-meter) tunnel has a geometric size error of less than 0.1 inch (2 mm), with the entire pipeline capable of returning to normal pressure in five minutes.
In the second testing phase, CASIC plans to extend the track to 37 miles (60 km), enabling the train to reach 621 mph (1,000 km/h). At this projected top speed, the maglev train would outpace passenger jets, which typically cruise at speeds ranging between 575 and 600 mph (925 km/h and 966 km/h), according to Simple Flying.
