February 19, 2025 China’s experimental hyperloop T-Flight maglev train is advancing toward making record-breaking transportation speeds a reality, which could represent another milestone in the country’s expanding global influence in science and engineering. Following successful tests in 2023, the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) is pushing forward with developing the high-speed magnetic levitation transportation system amid similar Chinese advancements in AI, semiconductors, space exploration, and other areas of science and technology. But can the world’s third-largest country make traversing its enormous land mass a breeze? T-Flight Hyperloop Train At a planned 600 mph operating speed, T-flight would exceed even the cruising pace of commercial passenger aircraft. At this speed, the regular six-hour trip between Beijing and Shanghai would be reduced to an hour and a half. With China’s megacities potentially separated by up to a thousand miles or more, cutting commutes down to a fraction of their current times would greatly benefit the nation as it pushes to meet continual economic growth targets. Hyperloop trains could make long-distance travel significantly more efficient than air travel, which requires lengthy security screenings and airport transfers. The project takes inspiration from the hyperloop concept proposed by Elon Musk in a 2013 white paper, integrating magnetic levitation (maglev) technology with low-vacuum tubes to reduce friction and air resistance. While Western companies such as Hyperloop One ceased operations in 2023, China is pushing ahead with large-scale testing of its high-speed maglev system. Testing China’s Latest Maglev Train In February 2024, China conducted initial tests on a 1.24-mile track, with T-Flight reaching 387 mph, surpassing Japan’s L0 Series train record of 374 mph. In October 2024, the train was successfully tested in low-vacuum conditions for the first time, demonstrating the viability of a full-scale hyperloop system. According to China’s state-run CGTN, the test results were “consistent with the preset values,” though specific details remain undisclosed. Experts speculate that only a limited vacuum pressure was used in the test. Testing continues, with plans for a full-speed test on a 37-mile track. If successful, the train is expected to reach 621 mph during this next test, walking back an earlier estimate of over 1,000 mph. Beyond that, the goal is to reach a truly extraordinary third phase of the project, theoretically capable of breaking the sound barrier at 2,485 miles per hour. However, given the revised expectations for phase two, whether this ambitious goal will be adjusted remains unclear. Making The Hyperloop ‘Flying Train’ a Reality A maglev train uses magnetic force to lift itself above the tracks, creating a frictionless, non-contact vehicle that is often compared to a “flying train.” However, the technology does not achieve actual flight. Instead, two magnetic technologies operate in a maglev to hoist it into the air. An electromagnetic suspension (EMS) uses electromagnets on the train, which are attracted to the ferromagnetic rails to lift the train slightly above the track. Electrodynamic suspension (EDS) lights the train even higher when superconducting magnets on the train interact with coils in the track to create a repulsive force. See Also