Published : 13 Aug 2026, 07:51 PM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:32 AM
An experimental maglev train in China has accelerated from rest to 800kmph in just 5.3 seconds, setting a new record for short-distance acceleration.
Researchers at the Donghu Laboratory said the train not only achieved extreme speed but also demonstrated advanced braking, coming to a smooth stop over 200 metres, The Independent reports.
The 1.1-tonne train reached the speed on a 1km test track at the laboratory in Hubei province, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
Maglev trains use magnetic forces to lift the train slightly above the track, removing much of the friction associated with conventional rail. Magnetic waves generated by coils along the track then propel the vehicle forward.
It was the third time in six months that the same train had broken the world record for short-distance maglev acceleration.
The train was first tested in June 2025, when it reached about 650kmph in seven seconds, setting an acceleration record.
Subsequent tests saw it reach about 700kmph and then 798kmph, while researchers continued to reduce the time needed to reach those speeds.
The trials pushed several technologies to their limits, including high-power energy delivery, electromagnetic propulsion, high-speed levitation control and emergency braking, CCTV reported.
Maglev trains currently operating in China and Japan generally run at about 320kmph.
China's Fuxing trains, meanwhile, can reach a top commercial operating speed of 350kmph.
Researchers at China's National University of Defence Technology are also developing ultra-high-speed maglev technology. One of their tests achieved an acceleration to 697kmph in just two seconds.
The technology is not currently intended for passenger transport.
Researchers hope its underlying principles could eventually be used in launch systems for rockets and fighter jets.
Chinese scientists are also developing similar ultra-high-speed maglev systems for trains travelling through low-pressure or vacuum tubes.
However, the technology still faces major challenges, including infrastructure costs, passenger safety and the construction of precisely aligned tracks over long distances.
