China is planning to build its first hyperloop train track between Shanghai and Hangzhou. A 150 km-long vacuum tunnel will allow maglev trains to travel at speeds of up to 1,000 km/h. The Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and rail authorities commissioned a “comprehensive assessment on the candidate sites for construction of an ultra-high speed pipeline maglev system demonstration line”. Shanghai and Hangzhou emerged as the winners, said scientists involved in the project in a report published in the Chinese-language journal Railway Standard Design on April 17. The Academy is responsible for providing scientific and technological advice to the Chinese government. Top scientists and engineers from the Academy are directly involved in the conception, design and construction of the nation’s largest infrastructure projects.
The assessment team was led by Zhang Yunjiao, Senior Engineer with the state-owned China Railway Engineering Design and Consulting Group in Beijing. Traveling the 200 km between Shanghai and Hangzhou by car takes about three hours, and about an hour by high-speed rail. According to some estimates, a hyperloop line could cut the trip to about 15 minutes. China’s experience in building high-speed rail has provided valuable experiences that can also be used in hyperloop projects. In about 15 years, China has built high speed rail lines long enough to circle the Earth. Developing the hyperloop technology is still in its early stages, and before it can be implemented on a large scale, many daunting technical challenges must be overcome. Building the necessary infrastructure for a hyperloop system – including low-pressure tubes and specialized stations – will require significant investment and expertise.
An ultra-high speed pipeline maglev system – more commonly known as a hyperloop – was first proposed by Elon Musk in 2013. The transport system uses vacuum-sealed tubes to transport passengers and cargo. China has taken the idea seriously because it has the potential to revolutionize transport and provide a faster, more efficient way to move people and goods. China is already a leader in high-speed rail technology, and investing in hyperloop technology could help maintain its position as a global leader in transport innovation. The hyperloop project “is of strategic significance to China”, Zhang and her colleagues said in the assessment report. The line is expected to be operational by 2035, the South China Morning Post reports.
