China's new 370mph maglev train may have finally solved 'tunnel boom'
Published on Sep 09, 2025 at 8:17 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Sep 09, 2025 at 8:35 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
A new 370mph maglev train in China may have finally solved the ‘tunnel boom’ problem that has occurred for many years.
The tunnel boom has been a problem for a long time, a phenomenon that is similar to the sonic boom caused by aircraft as they pass the speed of sound.
Researchers in China think they have finally found a way that can reduce the effects of the boom by over 90 percent, in what could be a game-changer.
Other countries are also looking at how they can mitigate the effects of the tunnel boom.
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What exactly is the tunnel boom caused by a maglev train?
The tunnel boom itself occurs when a high-speed train enters an enclosed space, most often a tunnel.
The air in front is compressed like in a piston, causing fluctuations in air pressure.
Those then coalesce at the mouth of the tunnel and create low-frequency shockwaves.
The booms can pose a real challenge to operational safety.
They can disturb humans and animals nearby and cause major structural damage.
Minimizing the impacts would be massively beneficial to any high-speed rail operator.
Researchers in China believe they’ve managed to reduce its effects by up to 96 percent.
They believe this can be done with soundproofing buffers at the mouths of the tunnels.
Maglev trains could operate more safely and faster with the boom minimized
Across the world, most high-speed trains travel at speeds around 217mph.
However, some maglevs travel much faster, and in China, they can travel up to 370mph.
A train going that fast is enough to cause a boom in a tunnel that is just over 1 mile long.
The 100-metre-long sound buffers use a porous structure and combine with porous coatings on the body of the tunnel.
This allows trapped air to escape before the train gets to the tunnel mouth, suppressing the boom.
It acts similarly to that of a silencer fitted to a firearm.
Various videos online of trains operating this fast will show the boom in full effect.
Being able to reduce its effect by nearly 100 percent would be a remarkable achievement.
It may even pave the way for faster trains in the future!
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
