China is pushing the boundaries of high-speed rail technology with its ambitious development of maglev trains that could revolutionise travel within the country.
Passengers in China could soon stream ultra-high-definition videos or play online games on their smartphones while travelling at 1,000km/h on high-speed maglev trains.
Currently, the country’s high-speed trains operate at 350km/h and support 5G connectivity, even in long tunnels.
Efficient fix for maglev train base station challenges
While still in development, China’s next-generation high-speed trains are designed to exceed the speed of commercial airliners by travelling through near-vacuum tubes using magnetic levitation.
Maintaining communication between phones and base stations at near-sonic speeds is a significant challenge. As the train moves, the signal frequency shifts, disrupting the stable high-frequency signals needed for data transfer. Installing base stations in near-vacuum tubes is also tough; if an antenna dislodges due to vibrations, it could endanger the high-speed train.
Researchers from Southeast University, led by Professor Song Tiecheng of the National Key Laboratory of Mobile Communications, have proposed a solution to simplify base station installation by laying two parallel cables along the inner wall of the tube, the South China Morning Post reported.
These specialised cables can emit electromagnetic signals, enabling continuous and stable connections between smartphones and mobile networks. Thus, by applying efficient coding techniques and fine-tuning key signal parameters, disruptions from frequency shifts can be minimised. Initial computer simulations confirm that this approach supports stable communication under the 5G standard during data transmission.
World’s largest maglev research base in Shanxi begins full-scale propulsion tests
Engineers from the Magnetic Levitation and Electromagnetic Propulsion General Department of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation have participated in this research, as the corporation recently launched high-speed propulsion tests on full-scale prototype vehicles at the world’s largest vacuum-tube maglev train research base in Datong, Shanxi province.
Many Chinese cities are currently seeking approval from Beijing to construct the first commercial vacuum tube maglev line. This form of ground transport, known as the 'hyperloop', was initially proposed by Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk.
However, China is now the only country actively advancing this technology after Musk abandoned the project late last year due to technological and financial challenges.
Over the past 15 years, China has invested heavily in high-speed rail networks, gaining expertise in research, development, engineering, and advanced manufacturing. Experts believe these resources can now be applied to the early-stage development of hyperloop technology, which China has already tested.
Among the options for the hyperloop lines are a Beijing-Shijiazhuang route, aimed at relieving congestion on existing transport routes near the capital, and a Guangzhou-Shenzhen line, connecting two big economic hubs in the Asia-Pacific region and potentially linking them to the world.
The first hyperloop line is expected to be operational by 2035, though significant work on safety, regulations, and infrastructure still needs to be done.