Going Faster And Faster

Magnetic levitation (Maglev) trains are the cutting edge in public transport technology. With the use of magnets to propel the train forward, maglev trains do not suffer from the same problems that plague conventional trains, namely the friction between the train and the tracks that slow it down and require heavy maintenance. This allows the trains to reach blistering high speeds. While maglev trains and its tracks cost a lot money to build, this has not stopped companies from developing the faster trains.

One such company is CRRC Corp Ltd, China’s largest rail transportation manufacturer. This firm will start the research and development of a maglev train that can reach 600 km/hr (372.8 mph).

The company says that it will build a 5 km (3.1 mile) test track as a platform to test this new train.

Along with a high speed train, the company will also test out 200 km/hr (124 mph) and 400 km/hr (249 mph) models for the purpose of developing home-grown technologies to sell globally.

Sun Bangcheng, a CRRC official, says that these trains will consume 10 percent less energy than the country’s 350 km/h (217 mph) bullet trains currently in use.

Bringing People Closer

The commercial adoption of maglev trains is still in its infancy, with a total of only 4 commercial tracks operational throughout in the whole world. However the constant development of these ultra-fast trains shows great promise for its future.

Imagine, this train could cover 1190 km (740 miles) in under 2 hours. To put that in perspective, that is the distance between New York and Atlanta. These new superfast forms of transport are being developed so it could connect people—and allow us to traverse the globe—as never before.