Chinese firm launches R&D on 600 km/h maglev train

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A Chinese firm is to start researching and developing a magnetic levitation (maglev) train that can run at 600 km per hour, faster than any other maglev train currently in operation.

CRRC Corporation, China's largest rail transportation equipment maker, said it will build a maglev rail line at least five kilometers long to test the train.

CRRC Corp. Ltd.

The company will also develop maglev trains that travel at 200 km/h, with the goal of establishing domestic technology and standard systems for new-generation medium- and high-speed maglev transportation that can be applied globally, said Sun Bangcheng, a CRRC official.

In addition, the firm will kick off research and development on cross-border high-speed trains that can run at 400 km/h and alternate between different track gauges, ranging from 60 cm to 167.6 cm.

Such trains will consume 10 percent less energy than the country's 350 km/h bullet trains that are currently in use, said Sun.

China has seen rapid development of its high-speed railways in recent years, with the total network length exceeding 20,000 km, the world's longest high-speed rail network.

The country started operation of its first home-grown maglev rail line in May, with trains running at a maximum speed of 100 km/h.

China's first home-grown maglev rail line operates in Changsha city, Hunan Province on May 5, 2016.‍

(Story from Xinhua)