China just proved that Maglev trains can accelerate in the blink of an eye with this test
Published on Jan 21, 2026 at 9:36 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jan 21, 2026 at 9:36 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
You’ll have heard a lot about the Maglev trains in China and how fast they are – but seeing is believing.
This video made its way online and showed how the test vehicle could shoot from zero to 435mph in a matter of two seconds.
It’s no wonder some people have been calling this the ‘Bugatti Chiron’ of trains.
So that raises the question – when can we expect to see these super-fast trains in action?
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This Maglev train looked incredible in action
To see this train in action is akin to being on a rollercoaster – you know that feeling when the cart has shot off, and you still feel like half your body has been left at the starting point?
Although we should add a slight caveat to this point, as this video doesn’t show a full train in action.
Instead, it’s the equivalent of a train chassis making use of maglev, AKA magnetic levitation, technology.
Nonetheless, it’s a thrilling display of speed.
Researchers at China’s National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) were the brains behind this operation.
There’s fast, and then there’s whatever this is.
Given how these kinds of trains have been compared to planes before, we shouldn’t be surprised.
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These trains have been getting a lot of press
Maglev is short for ‘magnetic levitation’, which counteracts the effects of gravity to allow the train to glide on air and travel at higher speeds.
No rails means no friction, and that means the train ride is faster, but also quieter and smoother.
For the time being, they’re only in service in Korea, Japan, and China.
It’ll be exciting to see these trains develop more and more as time goes on.
With one projected to go so fast that it could go from New York to Washington, DC, in 20 minutes, we’re expecting big things.
And if you’ve ever wondered what the view would be like inside the driver’s cabin, it’s like nothing you’d expect.
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Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.
