China unveils new generation of commercial maglev train

China's CRRC Zhuzhou locomotive announced on Thursday the completion of tests of a new generation of commercial maglev trains built to travel at speeds of 200 kilometers per hour.

According to the company, the rail service will work through a wireless control mechanism on the ground in charge of transmitting millimeter waves from the 5G bands, which will allow the train to circulate autonomously.

“The vehicle is equipped with several advanced technologies, including a contactless power supply. The new train will be used on intercity and urban lines from 50 to 200 kilometers," said Zhang Wenyue, deputy director of the company's Magnetic Levitation Research Institute.

He also explained that the production model guarantees optimally matched acceleration capacity compared to other maglev trains.

"The control system collects real-time data on vehicle operation to perform intelligent diagnosis to ensure the safety and reliability of autonomous driving," he said.

General tests and adjustments to the vehicle's system were carried out at Tongji University's high-speed magnetic levitation laboratory in Shanghai.