China has unveiled a prototype for a new high-speed maglev train that is capable of hitting speeds of 620 kilometers per hour. The 69-foot prototype was unveiled in Chengdu. At the launch ceremony, the train was seen floating slowly along the track.
According to news reports, created by scientists at the Southwest Jiaotong University, the train has no wheels. Instead, the magnetic levitation train has been developed with high-temperature superconducting (HTS) technology, which uses magnets that allow it to 'hover' above the track. This makes it look like the train is floating along the magnetized tracks and allows for faster, frictionless travel.
The debut of the 'floating' train has been hailed as a "zero to one" breakthrough in the country's development of HTS technology. While the train was unveiled with much fanfare, it could be some time before it is operational. Researchers are hoping to make it fully operational in the next three to 10 years.
The new maglev train is part of China's plan to create faster links between its cities. This one is designed to travel at 620 kmph, which could reduce the travel time between London and Paris to a mere 47 minutes. Already, researchers are working to stretch that speed to 800 kmph.
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