JR Central’s superconducting maglev has set a new world speed record on its test track in Japan’s Yamanashi prefecture.
The maglev topped 590 km/h on April 16, breaking the previous record of 581 km/h set in 2003, before breaking the 600 km/h barrier earlier this week.
Construction started on the 438-kilometre Chuo Shinkansen system between Nagoya, Tokyo and Osaka last year.
The project is expected to cost around JPY 9 trillion (€66 billion). JR Central plans to open the system, which would have an operating speed in excess of 500 km/h, in 2027.
In 1997, JR Central began testing the SC Maglev technology at its Yamanashi Maglev Test Line. An extension of the test track then allowed JR Central to test its successor, the LO maglev train.
