New Chinese bullet train shatters world record by going 497 mph in 5.3 seconds
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An experimental Chinese bullet train has shattered a world record after accelerating from a standstill to 497 mph (800 km/h) in just 5.3 seconds.
The 1.1-tonne maglev vehicle completed the run on a one-kilometer test track at Donghu Laboratory in China’s Hubei province.
According to The Independent, the train also demonstrated its advanced braking system by coming to a controlled stop over roughly 200 meters.
The record is specifically for short-distance maglev acceleration. Unlike a traditional train, the vehicle uses magnetic forces to float slightly above its track, removing friction from wheels.
Electromagnetic waves generated by coils around the track then propel it forward at extreme speeds.
“800 km/h in just 5.3 seconds,” the Chinese Mission to the United Nations wrote while sharing footage of the test. “China’s maglev test train just set another world record, and it did it without wheels.”
Record-breaking train isn’t ready for passengers
The nearly 2,550-pound vehicle reportedly broke its own acceleration record for the third time in six months.
Its earlier tests reached approximately 650 km/h, 700 km/h and 798 km/h as researchers steadily increased its speed while shortening the time needed to reach it.
However, passengers should not expect to ride the 497 mph train anytime soon.
The experimental vehicle is being used to test high-powered energy delivery, electromagnetic propulsion, levitation controls, positioning and emergency braking systems. The track must also remain incredibly precise, with deviations kept within just 0.5 millimeters.
For context, the fastest commercial high-speed trains in China reach 217 mph, while in Japan, they’re under 200 mph.
Researchers believe the technology could eventually help develop ultra-high-speed transportation, but its more immediate uses may include launch systems for rockets and fighter jets.
There are also major obstacles preventing it from becoming a passenger train, including construction costs, energy demands, safety requirements and the difficulty of building precisely aligned tracks over long distances.
The record comes as rail companies continue to push train travel in different directions. Japan is adding private ‘Supreme Class’ cabins above business class, while its luxury Shiki-shima train lets passengers bathe while moving, with some trips costing around $10,000.
