The vehicle “almost flew”. This is how they refer to the latest high-speed train successfully being tested by a group of scientists from North China University. They claim it will be able to reach a speed of 1000 kilometers per hour, making it the fastest train in the world. This is possible because it uses a technology similar to Elon Musk’s Hyperloop rapid train.
Unlike traditional trains, this one does not run on tracks but remains suspended in the air thanks to powerful magnets. Therefore, the circuit must be different: it moves through tubes under almost vacuum. With these two mechanisms, the vehicle can gather a lot of speed: thanks to the magnet, it avoids friction resistance, and with the evacuated tubes, it eliminates air resistance.
There are other trains with similar characteristics to those being tested in China. For example, Elon Musk’s high-speed train. This is the Hyperloop, which also incorporates magnetic levitation and evacuated tubes through which capsules with passengers or goods they want to transport will move. For this design, there is already a project underway to connect some European cities, such as Berlin, Rotterdam, Munich, among other cities, with Barcelona.
However, these mechanisms are not very new. The first Hyperloop was built in 1799 and began in 1870. It was built by the then mayor of New York, who wanted to offer his citizens the possibility to cross Manhattan in half an hour. But lack of funding could potentially hinder the project.
Later on, the United Kingdom used a magnetically levitated vehicle to serve Birmingham airport transportation from 1984 to 1995. After years, a similar vehicle was installed in Shanghai to connect the city center with its airport. However, both projects had a flaw, which was the economic losses they caused, leading the British to decide to shut down their area.
