China Develops World’s Fastest Train — Boasts 600km/h Top Speed

The fastest train in the world is now in China. According to Chinese state media, the country currently has the fastest train in the world with a top speed of 600km/h. With this high-speed train, a journey of 1000 kilometres, or the distance between Beijing to Shanghai would take just 150 minutes. This is a reduction of almost 30 minutes for the same journey via a flight.

China Develops World’s Fastest Train — Boasts 600km/h Top Speed

Of course, it is a lot faster than other trains, reducing travel time by more than 3 hours when compared to other existing high-speed rail networks. The train used to achieve this feat is also very unique as it doesn't have any wheels. So, technically, the train flies or hovers very close to the ground rather than rolling with the help of wheels.

China Develops World’s Fastest Train — Boasts 600km/h Top Speed

This is achieved by replacing the wheels and tracks with rows of powerful magnets. These magnets propel the train to move forwards at high speeds while having minimal friction. Since there is barely any friction between the train and the track, it can travel much faster than regular trains.

China Develops World’s Fastest Train — Boasts 600km/h Top Speed

According to reports, the mag-lev train will bridge the gap between the current high-speed train that runs at around 350km/h, and aircraft that fly at 600kmph. Since the setup involves a unique mechanism involving the use of powerful and precise magnets, the cost is also very high.

China Develops World’s Fastest Train — Boasts 600km/h Top Speed

Only a few countries like Japan, France, Spain, and South Korea use it. In China, the mag-lev project was initiated in 2016 and within three years, China had already conducted a few rounds of testing.

China Develops World’s Fastest Train — Boasts 600km/h Top Speed

Thoughts On China Making The Fastest Train In The World

Almost all of the train and its components have been indigenously developed by the Chinese. This is yet another testimony to China's engineering prowess. We certainly see this train bridging the gap between other high-speed trains and aircraft. Pricing for a ticket though, is said to be at a premium.

Image Source: China Xinhua News And China News

Article Published On: Thursday, July 22, 2021, 10:29 [IST]
Read more on: #off beat
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X