China has successfully completed a demonstration test of its ultra-high-speed (UHS) magnetic levitation train which makes it potentially the fastest train in the world.
The UHS maglev train, designed to reach speeds of up to 1,000 kilometers per hour (km/h), was tested in a 2-kilometer-long, low-vacuum tube in Shanxi Province, northern China.
The test, conducted by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited, showed promising results. The superconducting maglev vehicle achieved controlled navigation, stable suspension, and safe stopping, as reported by the Yanggao County test base in Datong City.
The vehicle’s maximum speed and suspension height matched the preset values, confirming the system’s operational stability.
This new transportation system integrates aerospace technology with ground rail infrastructure, aiming to revolutionize intercity travel in China. A journey from Beijing to Shanghai, for example, could be reduced to just 90 minutes, thanks to the Maglev Train system.
The project could potentially transform travel between China’s megacites, providing a faster, more efficient alternative to existing rail services.
The construction of the test line began in April 2022, and the project has continued to make progress. The test also verified the system’s ability to maintain a long-distance, large-scale vacuum environment—an essential feature of maglev trains.
While China is advancing quickly with this project, the concept of a low-pressure tube transportation system was first introduced by Elon Musk in 2013 under the name Hyperloop. Although Musk’s venture, Hyperloop One, was shut down in 2023, other companies like Virgin Hyperloop continue to explore the concept, with its first passenger test taking place in 2020.
Experts believe China, with its extensive rail infrastructure and large population, is well-positioned to make ultra-high-speed maglev systems commercially viable.
With over 45,000 kilometers of high-speed rail already in operation, China’s transportation network continues to expand rapidly.
