Delhi to Kolkata in less than 2.5 hours? This train can cover 1,200 km distance in just 150 minutes, top speed to be…, it is developed by…

New Delhi: Move over, airplanes — Beijing has successfully tested magnetic levitation (Maglev) technology, with the potential to make trains even faster than jets. According to the reports, Maglev technology trains will be able to cover 1,200km distance in just 150 minutes. The South China Morning Post reported that the superfast Maglev, travelling the 1,200km distance between Beijing and Shanghai, could slash the present travel time of 5.5 hours by high-speed rail to as little as 2.5 hours.If magnetic levitation (Maglev) technology is introduced in India, the journey between Delhi and Kolkata could take less than 2.5 hours.

It is important to note that the train was unveiled this week at the 17th Modern Railways exhibition. The supersonic train is capable of reaching speeds up to 600 km per hour in just 7 seconds.

Faster than a plane:

The Chinese have used opposing magnetic fields in Maglev technology to lift the train off its track. This process helped the train to reduce the friction and allows for smoother, quieter, and faster movement. In its latest trial at Donghu Laboratory in China’s Hubei Province — conducted in June — 1.1-ton Maglev train accelerated to 404 mph in under 7 seconds across a 1,968-foot track.

This breakthrough follows a 2023 test in which the same technology reached speeds over 620 mph — surpassing the typical cruising speed of passenger jets, which ranges between 547 and 575 mph, according to Newsweek.

Here are some of the key details:

  • Beijing has successfully tested magnetic levitation (Maglev) technology, potentially enabling trains to travel faster than aircraft.
  • The Chinese have used opposing magnetic fields in Maglev technology to lift the train off its track.
  • This process helped the train to reduce the friction and allows for smoother, quieter, and faster movement.
  • The test was conducted inside a vacuum tube designed to simulate near-zero air resistance.
  • This breakthrough uses high-temperature superconducting levitation, allowing frictionless, silent travel at record speeds.
  • Engineers at Donghu Laboratory expect to complete the full construction of their high-speed track by the end of 2025, as per Newsweek.

What does the Maglev train look like?

  • The train is being developed by the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC)
  • The new high-speed maglev train boasts a sleek, aerodynamic design with a pointed nose to minimize air resistance.
  • State broadcaster CCTV shared footage of the new train’s futuristic interior
  • The train features a spacious cabin and large digital screens.
  • CRRC’s new high-speed maglev train is one of several advanced transport projects under way in China.

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