Japan's Maglev Breaks Record!

Apr 25, 2015 By Deepa Gopal
Deepa Gopal's picture

The arrival of the bullet train in 1964 was celebrated as a sign that Japan had emerged from the devastation of World War II. Since then, Japan has continued to push the frontiers.  

Recently, Japanese engineers have broken the world record for speed with a Maglev train capable of achieving speeds of 603 km/hr (374 mph) in a test run. Compare that to commercial planes that fly at 550-600 mph! 

Japan's Central Railway plans to introduce the Maglev train service between the cities of Tokyo and Nagoya in 2027. It will cover a distance of 280 km in just 40 minutes. 

How Do Maglevs Work?

The trains that we are all familiar with and run on tracks are not the most efficient. Energy is lost due to friction between the wheels and the tracks. The bullet trains (also known as Shinkansen) in Japan are an improvement, where the train tracks are powered by electricity to make the trains go faster.

However, to achieve even higher speeds, countries around the world have been experimenting with a technology known as Magnetic Levitation (Maglev), where the trains literally float 10 cm above the tracks! 

Wondering how Maglevs work? Let's take a look.

We know that "like" poles of a magnet repel each other and "unlike" poles attract - a concept you would have learned in magnetism. By lining the tracks and the bottom of the train with strong magnets that alternately repel and attract each other, the train can be propelled forward while staying on the tracks.

As you can imagine, the magnets have to be very strong. This is done by creating "super" magnets. Electricity is sent through metals with electric coils around them. This creates a strong magnetic field around the metal, making it into an electromagnet or a "super" magnet. 

Pros And Cons

Maglev vehicles and tracks tend to have lower maintenance issues and longer lifetimes as there is no mechanical contact between the trains and the rails. They are more fuel-efficient and do not emit any polluting carbon dioxide because they use electricity to power the system.  

So, how many countries have deployed a Maglev train? Turns out, only one. The Shanghai Maglev in China is the first and only commercial train to carry people, running at a top speed of 430 km/h – 267 mph. The train runs between Shanghai International Airport and the main metro station and covers the distance in 8 minutes.

Magnetic levitation trains were developed in Germany but were never used commercially, after an accident during a test run that killed 26 people in 2006. Even within Japan, there are concerns that events like an earthquake (which are common in the country) could knock the train off its track, and at such high speeds, the impact could be quite devastating.

However, Japan and China are continuing to innovate and perfect the technology, and hope to export it to the rest of the world. It may only be a matter of time before we see trains flying on a cushion of air!

Courtesy BBC, HowStuffWorks, dailytech.com

Comments

samuelclaps's picture
samuelclaps October 18, 2016 - 2:08pm

that's fast

you could get sick

nathang4's picture
nathang4 May 7, 2015 - 8:40am

374 miles per hour?!? THAT'S CRAAAAAZYYY!!!!! How did the thing EVER stop?!?

lanem's picture
lanem May 6, 2015 - 10:56am

The maglev is a great advance. I wish I could try riding the maglev.

Smilebunny's picture
Smilebunny May 5, 2015 - 9:56pm

So fast!

aimeei's picture
aimeei May 7, 2015 - 9:07am

Yeah and cool too

Rijk123456789's picture
Rijk123456789 May 5, 2015 - 2:08am

i think its cool but it uses electricity and if all the transportation uses electricity it would be bad for the inviremont and everyone

Tryn28's picture
Tryn28 May 5, 2015 - 11:17am

plus this is actually powered by magnets

Tryn28's picture
Tryn28 May 5, 2015 - 11:17am

I thought that combustion engine smoke was the bad stuff

Gabi's picture
Gabi May 4, 2015 - 4:15pm

This is absolutely fantastic! These trains can be the newest gen. of transportation, and also cheap!

darlah's picture
darlah May 4, 2015 - 7:24am

That's so crazy that it can go as faster than commercial planes. Do you think this could be the next big thing for transportation?

DKmoon's picture
DKmoon May 4, 2015 - 12:16am

Aaah yeah, I saw that under construction when I was over in Japan. So cool!!!

josephf's picture
josephf May 3, 2015 - 10:50am

That is crazy speeds for a land vehicle

Tryn28's picture
Tryn28 May 1, 2015 - 4:56pm

Maybe a tube? that could help?

coleh5's picture
coleh5 May 1, 2015 - 2:14pm

Really cool, I think it will impact the society a lot. We have a lot of cool things today, think in just 20 or so years, weal be driving flying a car!

youngpg's picture
youngpg May 5, 2015 - 7:05pm

We already have flying cars.

coltonw2's picture
coltonw2 May 1, 2015 - 2:05pm

Wow that's cool I want to ride in that train, going so fast would be exiting. They wouldn't crash they are magnetized to the rails with very very strong magnets.

makenzieb's picture
makenzieb May 1, 2015 - 1:27pm

That is so cool that we have such amazing technology! I would be scared to ride one, because it goes so fast.

jamesr3's picture
jamesr3 May 1, 2015 - 1:21pm

I think that the maglev is cool and i would love to ride on it but i have never been on a train.

ivanr2's picture
ivanr2 May 1, 2015 - 1:19pm

Very interesting that a train can reach that speed. I wish I could ride in one someday.But how much did they spend on building and how much would it cost to repair it if something ever happened to it?

isaacg4's picture
isaacg4 May 1, 2015 - 1:15pm

That's kind of crazy that a land vehicle can go that fast. I would like to ride one some day.

alexac3's picture
alexac3 May 1, 2015 - 1:12pm

This is crazy cool. Who would've ever guessed that a train would be able to go this fast? They should continue to make the Maglev trains and see how much faster they can get the trains to go.

victoro's picture
victoro May 1, 2015 - 1:11pm

I wonder if they will have a street legal car that can go that fast? That would be awesome to be in that train. I wonder if you can feel it going over 500 mph?

erikr's picture
erikr May 1, 2015 - 12:27pm

wow that is so awesome how they broke the world record for the fastest train and how the tunnels I wonder how long its going to last

donavink's picture
donavink May 1, 2015 - 12:21pm

I think the bullet trains are very creative but on the other hand if they are getting derailed then not as many people will travel on the Bullet Trains

donavink's picture
donavink May 1, 2015 - 12:20pm

That is insane! 550-600 mph. I never would have thought a land vehicle would ever reach that speed.

nayelig's picture
nayelig May 1, 2015 - 12:20pm

These trains are a very good new way for transportation, it'll help the world get around easier. Well if they decide to make them all over.

katew4's picture
katew4 May 1, 2015 - 12:18pm

Yes! I think that the train is safe and is a great new way to get around. Its AMAZING how fast this train can go. How many people could it carry in able for this train to go slower or can it go slower if you add more weight?

lukem4's picture
lukem4 May 1, 2015 - 12:17pm

This is really cool. I think that in the future it might be the most used transportation to get to farther away places.

bransont's picture
bransont May 1, 2015 - 12:14pm

I think that it is amazing that they got it to do that. 550 miles and hour that's incredible.

tylerh7's picture
tylerh7 May 1, 2015 - 9:42am

That is insane! 550-600 mph. I never would have thought a land vehicle would ever reach that speed.

BookLover15's picture
BookLover15 May 2, 2015 - 8:55am

I agree

coleh5's picture
coleh5 May 1, 2015 - 2:18pm

I agree 550-600 mph is insane, but I think in the years to come every one will be going this speed. No we won't but pretty fast though.

isaacg4's picture
isaacg4 May 1, 2015 - 1:16pm

I thought the same thing. That is insanely fast. it would be fun to ride in.

victoro's picture
victoro May 1, 2015 - 1:12pm

There actually has been the fastest car in the world can go over 700mph. obviously its not street legal.

daniw2's picture
daniw2 May 1, 2015 - 12:14pm

I agree with you it is insane that a land vehicle could ad did reach up to 550-600mph. But if I were ever to go that fast I would get really sick.

youngpg's picture
youngpg May 5, 2015 - 7:06pm

have you ever been on an airplane

bransont's picture
bransont May 1, 2015 - 12:13pm

this is amazing because it is incredible for a train to go that fast. I'm amazed how they got it to stay on the tracks in the first place.

marior's picture
marior May 1, 2015 - 9:37am

this is very interesting because of course the Japanese would be the ones to make the fastest trains.

coltonw2's picture
coltonw2 May 1, 2015 - 2:15pm

Yes I do think it is very interesting they can get to these top speeds. I hope to ride in one some day.

dezg's picture
dezg May 1, 2015 - 9:36am

I think this a very crazy thing but awesome

krisc's picture
krisc May 1, 2015 - 9:31am

I love the idea of maglev trains but wouldn't trust one just in the case of an earthquake. They are very interesting and fast though.

coltonw2's picture
coltonw2 May 1, 2015 - 2:07pm

YES, Japan gets lots of earthquakes tsunamis and all that good stuff. I would like to ride in them if they came to the U.S.

makenzieb's picture
makenzieb May 1, 2015 - 1:29pm

I also don't really trust them. I would be really scared the whole ride.

taylorl3's picture
taylorl3 May 1, 2015 - 1:07pm

Yeah I agree. They are really cool and it's insane how they can go that fast!

chrisw's picture
chrisw May 1, 2015 - 9:29am

I think this is very interesting because they can reach these speeds. It is also cool that they will be able to get places as fast as some planes.

arorac's picture
arorac May 1, 2015 - 9:25am

This train is very cool and exciting. I can't believe that we don't use them all the time. However, natural disasters would be catastrophic to this type of technology. How much does it cost to make?

lexieb2's picture
lexieb2 May 1, 2015 - 1:24pm

I would imagine that these trains would cost a lot because imagine he speed that the train could reach. And to reach these speeds it would cost a lot of money.

nayelir's picture
nayelir May 1, 2015 - 8:40am

That's is really amazing. I have a friend from there and he tells me about some really cool technology that they have over there. The train will definitely help people get to places faster and safer. Do you think these trains could replace airplanes?

lexieb2's picture
lexieb2 May 1, 2015 - 1:26pm

I don't think that these trains would replace planes because unless someone builds a railroad system over the ocean people are gonna have to fly.

alexac3's picture
alexac3 May 1, 2015 - 1:18pm

Yes, this is amazing. They should bring all that technology over here. If we had those trains all over the country, then transportation would be way more efficient. I honestly do think that if they keep on making these that it will replace trains.

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