China unveils high-speed hyperloop test with 2km vacuum tube: what you need to know

China has successfully conducted a new test run of its T-Flight maglev hyperloop project, which is designed to reach a staggering top speed of 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) per hour.

The test took place in a 2-kilometer tube with a low-vacuum environment located in Datong, Shanxi Province, marking the first time the integration of the train’s systems had been put to the test, as reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Top speed not disclosed this time

Although the developers did not disclose the exact speed achieved during the trial run, the results were reportedly in line with their expectations.

According to an official report by Science and Technology Daily, the superconducting maglev vehicle achieved controlled navigation, with stable suspension and safe stopping. The test also confirmed that the train's trajectory closely matched theoretical calculations.

Chinese maglev hyperloop train hits 387 mph and could someday outpace a plane.
byu/tommos intechnology

The test put several key technologies to the test, including the large-scale vacuum environment, superconducting navigation control technology, and system coordination in a low-vacuum setting. “This test improved the overall technical maturity of the system and laid a solid technical foundation for the next test,” a project representative informed the newspaper.

Earlier this year, in February, the T-Flight train had reached a record-breaking speed of 387 miles per hour on a short test track. This surpassed the speed of Japan's MLX01 Maglev, the fastest train in operation worldwide, which has a top speed of 361 miles per hour.

How does T-Flight operate?

Global Times reported that T-Flight, developed by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), utilizes magnetic levitation (maglev) technology, where magnets lift the pods above the track, allowing them to glide smoothly without the friction caused by wheels. This technology promises a faster, quieter, and more efficient mode of transport.

The project envisions the T-Flight as a hyperloop train, capable of transporting passengers at high speeds through tubes between distant locations. The concept of a hyperloop was first proposed in 1910 by American engineer Robert Goddard and gained renewed attention in 2013 after a white paper by Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX.

The recent tests in Datong saw the T-Flight reaching speeds of 387 miles per hour within a low-vacuum tube measuring just 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) in length.

T-flight & hyperloop system

The full-sized test line, which was co-constructed by the Shanxi provincial government and CASIC, is situated in Yanggao, Datong. Construction of the test line began in April 2022 and was completed in November 2023, according to Daily Mail.

This ambitious project represents a collaboration between aerospace technology and ground rail transportation technology, with the ultimate goal of creating a train capable of achieving a top speed of 1,000 kilometers per hour.

The concept of a hyperloop system in a low-pressure tube was further popularized by Elon Musk in 2013, who named it Hyperloop. However, the company he established to develop the system, Hyperloop One, was shut down at the end of 2023, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, UK-based Virgin Hyperloop successfully conducted its first passenger test in 2020, as stated on its official website.

China's efforts in advancing rail technology continue to be impressive. By the end of 2023, the total length of China’s railways in commercial operation had reached 159,000 kilometers, with over 45,000 kilometers of these being high-speed lines, according to official data.

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