Driver-free, levitating fast trains to come to China by 2020

Image: John Applese via Unsplash

200kph without a driver *gulp*

Maglevs – as in the name for trains derived from the words magnetic levitation – sure sound like the future. If you've ever ventured far out west in Beijing, you can experience this future for yourself on the S1 Line of Beijing's subway. The trains work by using a set of magnets to elevate the train off the tracks while pushing it forwards (and thus making for a super-speedy, quiet and smooth train ride because of the lack of friction).

Maglev trains are in operation in just three countries at the moment: China (obvs), Japan and South Korea. Shanghai's maglev, also known as the Transrapid, is currently the fastest commercial train in the world, with a top speed of a whooshing 430kph. Our Beijing maglev is a little slower than that, classified as a 'medium-low speed' line, with a line speed of 100kph. But, still, it's a levitating train.

Beijing's S1 Line. Image: N509FZ via Wikimedia Commons

If you've had a go on the S1 Line or taken the trip to Pudong Airport down south, we're sure you've been sparked with a sense of wonder. While you may not fully understand how it works (neither do we) and you're not quite sure how safe it is due to the incredibly high speeds (and you know, the magnets), you should be aware this is the forefront of locomotive technology. However, would you still ride it if there wasn't a driver?

According to CNN Travel, China is set to debut a new generation of driverless maglev trains by early 2020. Capable of reaching speeds of 200kph, they'll only be medium-low speed in comparison with Shanghai's airport maglev (shut up, Shanghai), but 200kph is faster than our S1 trains, and just overall pretty damn fast for something without a driver.

The 2.0 version of the technology, currently being tested in Hunan's capital city, Changsha, can reach 160kph, according to CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co, but the proposed 3.0 version is 40kph faster and doesn't require manual operation.

The word is the 3.0 model will also boast higher acceleration speeds and 'improved climbing abilities'. It will also have a more 'powerful brain', allowing for a more developed, and safer autopilot, reports Xinhua. Following testing, the trains are expected for city-to-city transits of 50-200km.

via GIPHY

So, while Shanghai may have the fastest train at the moment – Japan's 500kph Chuo Shinkansen is still a fair way off – it seems that maglev train technology, at least here in Asia, is going to keep developing and may fast become the norm.

However, we're still sweating the arrival of the ridiculous half an hour 1,000kph+ Beijing to Shanghai hyper fast train of doom...

For great places to travel to on normal speed trains, hit 'Read more' below. 

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