China is developing a mode of transportation that could transform the travel industry. In about a decade, developers expect a “floating train” that can reach speeds of more than 600 mph to be the next way to get around the country.
Chinese developers are now testing their “T-Flight” train, a mode of transport that shoots through a tube-like system designed to reduce air pressure and propel it forward. Simply put, the “hyperloop” technology eschews the need for wheels.
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The project has already set a world record speed of nearly 400 mph, overtaking the Shanghai maglev, the world’s fastest passenger train in operation. While the train hasn’t reached its full capacity, developers expect it to accelerate to 621 mph.
Advocates for the train said it will make commutes for China’s booming population faster as they navigate the sprawling country. Developers also project that the high-speed network will connect China’s government to neighboring countries.
China isn’t alone in conducting trials using hyperloop technology. Switzerland, the Netherlands, the U.S. and Canada are among the countries looking to compete. India has also shown interest and said that its research will start in 2026.
The United States, once considered a leader in designing the rail system, has now fallen behind other countries.
In 2013, Elon Musk proposed using hyperloop technology to reduce travel time between Los Angeles and San Francisco. That idea became his company, Hyperloop One. However, it ceased operations last year.
While the technology will reportedly reduce greenhouse emissions, it is costly to implement, requiring a significant infrastructure overhaul.
China has spent close to two decades developing a high-speed rail network. Thousands of miles link 93% of the nation’s cities.
Tags: China, Elon Musk, Energy, Netherlands, Public Transportation, Shanghai, Switzerland, United States
[Lauren Taylor]
CHINA IS HARD AT WORK ON A MODE OF TRANSPORTATION THAT COULD TRANSFORM THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY.
WITHIN A DECADE, A FLOATING TRAIN TOPPING SPEEDS OF MORE THAN 600 MILES PER HOUR COULD BE THE NEXT WAY TO GET AROUND THE COUNTRY.
DEVELOPERS TESTED THE ‘T-FLIGHT’ TRAIN…SHOOTING IT THROUGH A TUBE LIKE SYSTEM DESIGNED TO REDUCE AIR PRESSURE IN ORDER TO PROPEL IT FORWARD.
THE HYPERLOOP TECHNOLOGY DITCHES THE NEED FOR WHEELS ALLOWING THE PROJECT TO SET A WORLD RECORD SPEED OF CLOSE TO 400 MILES PER HOUR. IT SPEEDS PAST THE SHANGHAI MAGLEV, CURRENTLY THE FASTEST PASSENGER TRAIN IN THE WORLD.
CONSTRUCTION ON THE TRAIN STARTED IN 2022…COMBINING AEROSPACE AND GROUND RAIL TECHNOLOGIES INTO A FINISHED PROJECT LAST YEAR.
ADVOCATES SAY CHINA’S BOOMING POPULATION WILL MAKE THEIR COMMUTES FASTER AS THEY NAVIGATE ACROSS THE SPRAWLING COUNTRY.
THE HIGH SPEED NETWORK ALSO CONNECTS THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO ITS NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES .
CHINA ISN’T ALONE IN CONDUCTING TRIALS…SWITZERLAND, THE NETHERLANDS, THE U-S AND CANADA AMONG THE COUNTRIES LOOKING TO COMPETE.
THE UNITED STATES, ONCE A LEADER IN CRAFTING THE RAIL SYSTEM FALLS BEHIND IN CREATING A MODEL OF THEIR OWN.
ELON MUSK PUSHED THE IDEA OF USING HYPERLOOP TECHNOLOGY IN 2013 TO CUT DOWN ON TRAVEL TIME BETWEEN L-A AND SAN FRANCISCO. HYPERLOOP ONE SET UP A BUSINESS TO DEVELOP HIS IDEA, BUT STOPPED OPERATIONS JUST LAST YEAR.
CHINA HAS SPENT CLOSE TO TWO DECADES DEVELOPING A HIGH SPEED RAIL NETWORK. THOUSANDS OF MILES LINK 93 PERCENT OF THE NATION’S CITIES.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR
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