With advancements in technology and current development trends, the world continues to seek better to the continued human challenges. In a bid to enhance surface travel, China on Tuesday advertised “the world’s first 600 kilometers per hour high-speed maglev train”, according to state newspaper People’s Daily.
The super fast homegrown magnetic levitation train is capable of reaching 600 kph, the fastest train ever built by the country and fastest surface travel wagon ever built.
At 600kph, the train could be able to travel from Kampala – Nairobi (distance of 667.7km) in less than 1 hour and a half. In comparison, a fully serviced road travelling bus would take 13hr 15 min.
The train is built on maglev technology, a system of train transportation that uses two sets of magnets, one set to repel and push the train up off the track and the other for movement, taking advantage of the lack of friction.
However, China has no track line yet for the train, according to Chinese publication, Global Times.
“But some cities are planning to build high-speed maglev lines, and have entered the stage of research and demonstration,” the publication said earlier this week.
Maglev technology was conceptualised in early 20th century and has since undergone numerous improvements.
The company has yet to release a detailed plan for commercializing the maglev. CRRC exports trains worldwide, especially to countries that have signed onto Beijing’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. The rollout of the maglev promotes China’s technical prowess.
Countries from Japan to Germany are also looking to build maglev networks, although high costs and incompatibility with current track infrastructure remain hurdles to rapid development.
Japan’s maglev is under development by JR Central. The train attained the record 603 kph during a test run in 2015.
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