Japanese Media: China's Maglev Accelerates to 800 km/h in 5.3 Seconds and Stops Smoothly

Reporting by Japanese media outlet COURRiER Japan on August 6: The results of China's maglev railway experiment have drawn global attention from engineers and safety experts. The test train accelerated to 800 kilometers per hour within 5.3 seconds and then stopped smoothly.

Maglev railways use alternating electromagnetic fields generated by special magnetic coils installed along the track to levitate and propel the train. With no friction between wheels and track, high-speed operation can surpass the limits of conventional rail systems.

In China, Japan, and parts of Europe, high-speed trains are used as primary modes of transportation, with passenger speeds exceeding approximately 320 km/h.

As one of the fastest commercially operated trains in the world, China's "Fuxing" series is well known for its maximum speed of about 350 km/h. This latest Chinese maglev test train has broken three world records within half a year.

According to the U.S. magazine Popular Science, “a prototype maglev ‘flying vehicle’ weighing about 1,157 kilograms (1.16 tons) from the Donghu Laboratory in China has broken the short-distance acceleration world record for the third time in six months.” The progress of this experiment is remarkable.

The first world record for short-distance acceleration was set in June 2025, when it reached approximately 650 km/h in 7.1 seconds. In July of the following year, the top speed increased to around 697 km/h, and by November it reached about 798 km/h.

This time, it accelerated from rest to approximately 800 km/h in just 5.3 seconds.

Reporting by the UK’s Independent, this experiment is not merely a feat of speed. “Chinese researchers have demonstrated that the train can not only reach extreme velocities but also come to a smooth stop under controlled braking systems. After reaching 800 km/h, the train gradually came to a complete halt over a distance of about 200 meters.”

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1873683257905225/

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