CHINA claims it has set a new world speed record for a maglev train after a trial with a prototype reached a speed of 650km/h in just 7 seconds.
During trials at the Donghu Laboratory High-Speed Magnetic Levitation Electromagnetic Propulsion Technology Innovation Centre in Hubei province in central China, 650km/h was achieved by a 1.1 tonne vehicle running on a 1km test track on June 17.
Li Weichao, director of the centre, says that the trial used advanced short-distance boost technology, with positioning accuracy achieved within a margin of 4mm. The trial vehicle showed that it could safely brake within 220m, using electromagnetic boost brakes combined with a precise speed measurement and positioning system.
Engineers are now working towards achieving a new top speed of 800km/h.
Several commercial maglev lines are currently operating in China, including in Beijing, Shanghai and Changsha in Hunan province. Last year, construction started on the first phase of a 48.7km maglev line between Changsha and Liuyang in Hunan province, described as China’s first inter-city maglev line, which will have a top speed of 160km/h.
