China speeds toward the future with 1,000 km/h train

08-08-25

China is preparing to take a revolutionary leap in ground transportation with the development of an ultra-high-speed train that promises to reach 1,000 kilometers per hour—a figure that far surpasses the current speeds of the world’s fastest trains. This ambitious project, which combines magnetic levitation (maglev) technology with vacuum tunnel systems, is being led by researchers at the Advanced High-Speed Train Laboratory, part of Southwest Jiaotong University, one of the country’s most prestigious engineering institutions.

The team of experts is working on an advanced version of the maglev train, a transportation system already in use in cities like Shanghai, where a commercial line reaches speeds of 431 km/h. However, this new initiative aims to go far beyond those limits, doubling the speed of the fastest train currently in operation. To achieve this, a 60-kilometer test line is being built in Datong, Shanxi Province, featuring vacuum tunnels that drastically reduce air resistance, allowing vehicles to travel at unprecedented speeds.