Researchers at China’s National University of Defence Technology (NUDT) have accelerated a tonne-class vehicle to a record-breaking speed of 700 km/h (435 mph) in just two seconds on a 400-metre (1,310-foot) magnetic levitation test track, before bringing it safely to a stop.
This is a new global benchmark, making it the world’s fastest superconducting electric maglev system to date.
China Releases Maglev Train Video
Footage Shows Extreme Acceleration and Precision Control
Footage of the test released by state broadcaster CCTV on Thursday showed a vehicle resembling a bare chassis streaking across the maglev track, leaving a visible trail of mist behind it. The vehicle reached extreme speed almost instantly and decelerated just as rapidly at the end of the short test line.
✨🇨🇳 China’s Superconducting Maglev Train Hits 700 km/h in Just 2 Seconds – Ground-Skimming Hyperflight Era Is Here! pic.twitter.com/x697kPwYRl
— 🇨🇳XuZhenqing徐祯卿 (@XueJia24682) December 25, 2025
According to CCTV, the test represents a major leap in both extreme acceleration capability and high-power control technologies.
Maglev Train Features
The CCTV report said the successful run resolved several core technical challenges, including:
Ultra-high-speed electromagnetic propulsion
Electric suspension guidance
Transient high-power energy storage inversion
High-field superconducting magnet systems
The breakthrough signals China’s entry into the global top tier of ultra-high-speed maglev technology.
The Development of China’s Maglev Train
The research team behind the project has worked on the system for a decade. Earlier this year, in January, the same team achieved a top speed of 648 km/h on the same test line.
Li Jie, a professor at NUDT who was interviewed by CCTV, said, “The successful development of this ultra-high-speed superconducting electric maglev system will accelerate the research and development process of China’s ultra-high-speed maglev transport.”
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Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
