Daijiworld Media Network - Beijing
Beijing, Dec 27: China has created history in high-speed rail technology after successfully testing a superconducting magnetic levitation (maglev) train that accelerated to a record-breaking speed of 700 kmph in just two seconds, making it the fastest maglev system ever tested.
The breakthrough was achieved by researchers at the National University of Defence Technology (NUDT), who conducted the test on a 400-metre-long experimental maglev track. During the trial, the one-tonne test vehicle reached the unprecedented speed before being safely brought to a halt, officials said.
A video released from the test site shows the train shooting past like a silver flash, almost invisible to the naked eye, leaving behind a faint misty trail. The dramatic visuals have sparked global attention, with experts calling it a major leap in future transportation technology.
The train uses superconducting magnets to levitate above the track, eliminating physical contact and friction. This allows it to achieve extreme acceleration through electromagnetic propulsion, a system powerful enough to rival rocket-launch technologies.
According to the South China Morning Post, the project has successfully resolved several core technical challenges, including ultra-high-speed electromagnetic propulsion, electric suspension guidance, high-power energy storage and high-field superconducting magnets.
Researchers said the technology could revolutionise long-distance travel, enabling cities to be connected within minutes. It also opens up possibilities for next-generation transport systems such as hyperloop networks, where vehicles travel through low-pressure tubes at ultra-high speeds.
Li Jie, a professor at NUDT, said the successful test would significantly accelerate China’s research and development of ultra-high-speed maglev transportation. “This breakthrough lays a strong foundation for future applications in rail transport, aviation and even space launch systems,” he said.
The team has been working on the project for nearly a decade. Earlier this year, in January, the same system achieved a speed of 648 kmph on the same track. Nearly 30 years ago, the university had also developed China’s first manned single-bogie maglev train, making the country the third in the world to master the technology.
With this latest achievement, China has further cemented its position as a global leader in advanced rail and transportation innovation.