CHINA has unveiled a maglev train capable of a top speed of 600 km/h, on Tuesday.
The maximum speed would make the train, self-developed by China and manufactured in the coastal city of Qingdao, the fastest ground vehicle globally.
Launched in October 2016, the high-speed maglev train project saw the development of a magnetic-levitation train prototype with a designed top speed of 600 km/h in 2019 and conducted a successful test run in June 2020.
Using electro-magnetic force, the maglev train “levitates” above the track with no contact between body and rail.
China has been using the technology for almost two decades on a very limited scale.
Shanghai has a short maglev line running from one of its airports to town.
With the ability to reach 600 km/h once it gets up to speed, it’s estimated it would only take 2.5 hours to travel from Beijing to Shanghai by train — a journey of more than 1,200 kilometres.
The journey takes a comparable amount of time by plane and 5.5 hours by high-speed rail.
CBS