Chinese scientists have marked a major breakthrough in magnetic levitation technology after successfully accelerating a one-tonne vehicle to a speed of 700 kilometres per hour in just two seconds on a 400-metre test track, setting a new world record for superconducting electric maglev systems.
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The experiment was conducted by researchers at China’s National University of Defence Technology. Footage of the test, widely shared on Chinese media platforms and social networks, shows a chassis-like vehicle hurtling down the track, leaving behind a misty trail—an indication of the system’s extreme acceleration and precise high-power control. #China sets a world record with superconducting maglev train hitting 700 km/h in just 2 seconds！#technology #railway #train pic.twitter.com/kMVSAAwD36
According to state broadcaster CCTV, as reported by the South China Morning Post, the test overcame several core technical challenges. These include ultra-high-speed electromagnetic propulsion, electric suspension and guidance systems, transient high-power energy storage inversion, and the application of high-field superconducting magnets.
The achievement represents a significant leap in both speed and acceleration, with potential implications extending far beyond conventional rail transport. Experts say the technology could underpin future hyperloop systems, enable advanced ground-based testing of high-speed aerospace equipment, and even support next-generation rocket launch systems by reducing fuel consumption during take-off.
The same research team had reached a top speed of 648 km/h on the same track in January, underscoring the rapid pace of progress. Their success reflects more than a decade of sustained research and positions China at the forefront of global maglev development, three decades after the country introduced its first manned magnetic levitation train.
Professor Li Jie, who previously led the development of Beijing’s first commercial maglev subway line, said the latest breakthrough would accelerate China’s push toward ultra-high-speed maglev transport.
China’s broader maglev ecosystem has also made steady advances in recent years. In 2020, CRRC Qingdao Sifang tested a 600 km/h maglev prototype, while Southwest Jiaotong University developed a high-temperature superconducting maglev system in Chengdu designed to exceed speeds of 600 km/h.
The most recent initiative involves a collaboration between the Third Research Academy of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation and North University of China. The partners have constructed a two-kilometre experimental line in Datong to test maglev trains in low-vacuum pipelines, with the long-term goal of achieving speeds of up to 1,000 km/h.
If successfully commercialised, the technology could fundamentally reshape long-distance travel, dramatically shortening city-to-city journeys through vacuum-sealed tubes and opening new frontiers in high-speed transportation and aerospace engineering.
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