Tuesday, 1 February 2011

China develops train that can go at 1200 km/h

The model maglev train developed in a laboratory in China can reach supersonic speeds. Although the researchers admitted that the technology is still far away from being implemented the technology is expected to be in use within the next 10 years.

Similar technology is at the moment being researched in both Swizerland and the USA. Theoretically the trains could reach speeds of up to 20,000 km/h. This is over 16 times the speed of sound, an unimaginable velocity. Realistically however there is no application for such vast velocities.

The fastest any actual maglev train has ever run was 581 km/h, a record set in Japan in 2003.

There have been speculations about a theoretical transatlantic tunnel using this kind of technology. It is estimated that the train would spend 1/3 of the trip accelerating, 1/3 at peak speed, and a 1/3 decelerating because anything else would be uncomfortable or dangerous to passengers. The total time for the trip would be just under an hour and the highest possible speed is 5,000 km/h. Still many times faster than airplanes, although it shows that speeds of 20,000 km/h are unpractical.

A meglev train is coming out of the Pudong International Airport. (Credit: Alex Needham)
Posted by Rondariel at 18:04
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30 comments:

  1. RedHeadRob1 February 2011 at 18:31

    I wanna go there just to ride on the train.

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  2. GGMP1 February 2011 at 18:43

    Holy sh-

    I say do it anyway.

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  3. Anonymous1 February 2011 at 18:45

    I want to ride it.

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  4. mrecan1 February 2011 at 19:25

    scary velocities. even 500km/h is too much in my opinion

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  5. Zakk1 February 2011 at 19:26

    That's nuts! I want to ride it so bad :O

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  6. Come At Me Bro1 February 2011 at 19:30

    I need a train!

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  7. rickysha1 February 2011 at 19:51

    Wow thats incredible. Hopefully we can get a system set-up here in North America.

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  8. Mr V1 February 2011 at 19:56

    Yea it is pretty fast for still being on land. Although I would take it anyday rather than a plane. Thanks for the great post!

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  9. Kazarak1 February 2011 at 20:11

    Isn't it china that had those crazy floating magnet trains? those crazy chinese and their jetsons technology...

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  10. Anonymous1 February 2011 at 20:13

    My jaw literally dropped when I read this... that is incredible.

    I can't wait for tunnels under the Atlantic for transportation. Inclement weather wouldn't mean a thing. But it's probably a huge engineering feat.

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  11. 6mr1 February 2011 at 21:01

    i'm still doubting about the fysichs but intresting
    Following/supporting

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  12. Obi-wan Mikenobi1 February 2011 at 22:46

    I propose 1/10 accelerating, 1/10 decelerating and 8/10 at 20,000kph.

    Strap it up with rollercoaster restraints and blag it as the most exhilerating, mind blowing means of international travel.

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  13. trippinkets1 February 2011 at 23:38

    would be a roller coaster every day on that thing lol

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  14. Chris2 February 2011 at 00:40

    The sad truth is, many countries, especially from Asia, has surpassed us in terms of engineering feats

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  15. Icky Ray2 February 2011 at 01:28

    That's fast..

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  16. BMRMike2 February 2011 at 02:00

    I wouldn't trust riding in that thing.

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  17. efren2 February 2011 at 02:26

    That train sounds awesome. Imagine sticking your head out of the window while its going at top speed.

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  18. Texhnolyze2 February 2011 at 03:06

    No practical use for 20,000 km/h my ass! clearly these people don't have the need for speed.

    Interesting stuff though. Gonna be following and see where this goes.

    http://texhnolyze-entertainment.blogspot.com/

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  19. izoadmin2 February 2011 at 04:55

    This is how I would like to get to work everyday.

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  20. Frosty2 February 2011 at 07:03

    Damn, I would love to feel the acceleration of that train. What they can do with nearly zero friction, now if they seal the tunnels in a vacuum for no air resistance either...
    Following for cool science stuff

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  21. What a wonderful world2 February 2011 at 09:35

    Gosh 1200 kmh is so fast ... how many mph ?

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  22. Chris Sedun2 February 2011 at 11:13

    If they can do this, I think we're fucked as a superpower...

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  23. Bdgorsh2 February 2011 at 14:55

    This sounds awesome. I wonder how does it feel to ride in such a fast train

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  24. Alexander Stark2 February 2011 at 16:01

    Wow, this would introduce a whole new level to the "suicide by train" business. I would be too afraid to just be maimed when throwing myself in front of a regular train, but one travelling at supersonic speed would not leave you any chance of survival, I assume ...

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  25. Anonymouse2 February 2011 at 18:27

    wow, i wanna take a ride.

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  26. earth2 February 2011 at 18:56

    Technology is creepy sometimes. Tommorow they will build a train to the moon ;)

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  27. stan2 February 2011 at 19:13

    i would nver go on that train

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  28. r00b2 February 2011 at 19:18

    fastest I've ever hit was 950km/h on a boeing 757.. this is amazing. I wanna go to china now.

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  29. Rondariel3 February 2011 at 12:24

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks4T9ylxcwc&hd=1
    For anyone interested, this is what 431 km/h looks like. Also in China.

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  30. Mikas4 February 2011 at 17:01

    Whoah, I could travel from Portugal to Lithuania in a couple of hours! Very nice :)

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